Mr. Joel "Buddy" Keith Ford Sr

Joel “Buddy” Keith Ford, Sr., 70, passed away surrounded by his family on Friday, April 13, 2018 at his home in Florence. Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Monday, April 16th and from 9:00 a.m. until the 10:00 a.m. Memorial Service on Tuesday, April 17th all at Chancellor Funeral Home in Florence. Burial will follow at Hickory Ridge Cemetery in Florence. Buddy was born and raised in Columbia, MS in Marion County and has called Florence home for the past 39 years. He attended HUB High School and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Management from Jackson State University. Buddy served in the Special Forces as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army National Guard Airborne Division where he was a sharpshooter and parachutist during Vietnam. He loved big machinery and building things, including his own house. Buddy is preceded in death by his daughter, Laura Ford; parents, Henry Grady and Hazel Ford; sister, Marie McKenzie, and brothers, Joe, Jerry and Larry Ford. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Kathryn Ford of Florence; daughters, Christina Ford of Flowood, Grace Ford of Wiggins, and Rachel Ford of Florence; son, Joel Keith Ford, Jr (Brandi) of Brandon; brother, Grady Ford of Gulfport; sister, Doris Hart of Clinton; and 5 grandchildren, Cody Ford, Joelee Ford, Conner Ford Kendall, Riley Ford, and Madeline Stephens.