Jim Burns Ford, Sr., passed away October 2, 2012, at The Arrington in Columbus,Mississippi. Visitation will be at 1:00 pm Thursday afternoon, October 4, 2012 in the First Baptist Church parlor with a memorial service following at 2:00 pm in the sanctuary of First Baptist. Dr. Shawn Parker will preside. Graveside services will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Jim was born July 15, 1920, to Margaret Dowling Ford and George Clarke Ford, Sr., in Columbus, Mississippi and was the sixth of seven children. He graduated from Stephen D. Lee High School as Salutatorian in the class of 1938, and was a member of the Chesterfield Club. While attending Mississippi State University, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps following the attack on Pearl Harbor. His knowledge of Morse code gained as a telegraph operator for the Columbus and Greenville Railroad during high school led him to serve in marine aviation testing and development throughout the war. He then returned to the business school at MSU where he graduated with honors in accounting. Jim worked in agriculture as the division manager and president of Sawan Seed Company, a subsidiary of Northrup King Corporation. During his career, he also served as president of the Mississippi Seedsman Association and the American Seed Trade Association. He was actively involved locally as a past president of the Columbus Lowndes Economic Development Association. He was a member of Columbus Rotary Club and an avid golfer, serving three terms as president of Columbus Country Club. Jim was a member of First Baptist Church of Columbus, along with four generations of his family. He will be remembered for his respectful good nature, humor and quick wit, always leaving everyone feeling better and encouraged. Jim was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Margaret Ann Hutchinson Ford. He is survived by his son, Jim Burns Ford, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Diane Ellington Ford, of Columbus, Mississippi; grandsons Dr. G. Austin Ford of Stanford University and J. Burns Ford, III of Mississippi State University; sister, Louise F. Teeni Floyd of Meridian, Idaho; sister-in-law, Ruth Hutchinson Boyd of Montgomery, Alabama; nephews Charleigh D. Ford, Jr., Col. Michael H. Hull, Ret., Daniel D. Hull, William S. Ford, Jr., Dr. Bill W. Boyd, Dr. Gill M. Aust; nieces Linda F. Campany, Anne H. Wilkins, Nancy H. Wax, Sandi Floyd, Jill Ford, Ruth B. Deen, Layne H. Kleinhart, and Anne Hutchinson. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be all former employees of Sawan Seed Company, employees of Columbus Country Club, past and present, members of the Mens Golf Association, the Layabouts Lunch group, the staff at the Arringtonand all of his caregivers. Memorials may be sent to Love in Deed, First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 829, Columbus, MS 39703, and to the Palmer Home for Children, P. O. Box 749, Columbus, MS
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