"It's finished," said Griffith, holding pictures of 74-year-old Willie C. Griffith and 42-year-old Linda Gail Griffith. "I do forgive him. I hope he's gone to heaven."

Pernell Ford, 35, who was convicted of stabbing the two women to death at their Jacksonville home during a 1983 burglary, died at 12:12 a.m. today at Holman Prison near Atmore. He had sought execution since 1997, when he dismissed his attorney and dropped his court appeals amid questions about his mental stability.

In his last statement, Ford told Warden Charlie Jones he wanted to apologize to the Griffiths' family for the pain and suffering he had caused, and asked Jones to tell them to "be safe." As officers made final preparations, Ford recited the 23rd Psalm and other biblical passages, said Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Mike Haley.

Ford spent the day Thursday with his mother and a prison chaplain. He ate barbecued ribs, ham, English peas, turnip greens, potato salad, cornbread and cheesecake for his last meal.

Awaiting execution, he took deep breaths and alternately stared at the ceiling and closed his eyes, resting his head at times on the back of the electric chair.

"He was quite anxious to proceed ... and get it over with," Haley said.

Questions about Ford's sanity were first raised during his trial, when, while acting as his own defense attorney, he wrapped himself in a sheet during his penalty phase and demanded his victims be brought into the courtroom so God could resurrect them.
 
Ford initially was set for execution in July 1999, but a federal appeals court delayed his death after his former attorney questioned his mental state.

At a court hearing, Ford testified he could leave death row through "translation," and had visited heaven and other spots worldwide while in prison. He said he had millions of dollars in a Swiss bank account, which would support his children and his 400,000 wives after he was executed and became a part of the Holy Trinity.

The court ruled in November that Ford was competent to fire attorney LaJuana Davis and drop his appeals. Gov. Don Siegelman on Wednesday set aside a clemency request filed by Davis, who cited Ford's history of mental problems. Siegelman's press secretary, Carrie Kurlander, said the governor felt the request was inappropriate, given the court ruling.

Wayne Griffith and his wife, Margaret, traveled from their Gadsden home to witness the execution, along with former Calhoun County Sheriff Roy Snead.

"You always hear the bleeding-heart liberals say the death penalty's not a deterrent," Snead said. "It may not be, but it sure as hell cuts down on the repeaters."

Willie Griffith, who suffered from arthritis and used a walker, was a former school dietitian who often prepared large meals and invited neighbors to eat. "There was never a stranger in the house," her son said.

Of Ford's apology, "I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt," Wayne Griffith said. "I believe it was sincere. I really believe he meant it ... I feel good about it."

source: Birmingham news

                                    This was his penpal request :

I write with the hopes you are well and I hope your day be full of peace.  I am an inmate on death row for the past 16 years I have been in this hard condition.  I would like female pen pals because I am very lonely and will be grateful for your concern.  I like to write and never get any mail to understand if others care.  Want to find ladies who can stand by me.  I am interested in writing any race, over the age  30 to 55 and mature.

Pernell La'sha Ford
Z 445 Holman Unit 3700
Cell 4 D 9, Death row
Atmore Ala. 36503 3700
    

              The CCADP offers free webpages to over 500 Death Row Prisoners
                                             Contact us for more information.
                                                info@ccadp.org