Charles Shelby Ford

Charles Shelby Ford, 97, of Jackson, passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2019, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home, where he resided since 2016.

Charles was born March 6, 1921, in Crescent City, Florida, to Edward and Effie Render Ford. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1941 and took two years of college at the University of Florida, graduating as an Ensign in 1943 and was assigned to the USS LST 131, a tank-landing ship.  He was in the invasion of Saipan, Tinian, Peleliu Island, and was headed to Tokyo for invasion when the atomic bomb was dropped, and Japan surrendered.  Upon returning to the states, he was assigned to Homestead, Florida and was honorably discharged as at Lieutenant JG in 1946.

He taught high school and coached for two years in Crescent City and then attended Southwestern Baptist Univeristy of Theology and Seminary.  It was there that he felt called to the mission field, and in 1952, he went to Nigeria, teaching at a Baptist Boys High School in Abeokuta, Nigeria.  While in Abeokuta, he met Lucille Taylor (of Jackson, Missouri), who was teaching at a Women’s Training College in the same community.  They were married December 6, 1954, in Abeokuta, where they started their family.

Together, they felt compelled to open Baptist missions in Ogoja Province in the eastern region of Nigeria. They were responsible for establishing churches and partially responsible for the translation of the New Testament in the unwritten language of Yala.  After 14 years in Nigeria and two years in Ocala, Florida, they moved to Jackson, where Charles taught at R.O. Hawkins Junior High in Jackson and Lucille taught at West Lane Elementary School.  They were longtime faithful members of First Baptist Church in Jackson.  After retirement, they enjoyed living on their farm west of Jackson.  They had been married 56 years when Lucille passed away May 7, 2011.

Loving survivors include five children, Charles "Chuck" (Paula) Ford of Fredericktown, Mo., Steve (Sherri) Ford of Franklin, Tenn., John Ford of Hamilton, Canada, Cathleen (Russ) Couch of Rich Hill, Mo, and Robert (Amy) Ford of Wyoming, Ohio; six grandchildren, Heath Ford, Allison and Emily Ford, Cody Ford, Bryce and Michael Ford; two great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Amelia Ford; two siblings, Kitty (the late Ted) Elliott of Hemet, California and John (Freddie) Ford of Tucker, Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille; two siblings, William (Fran) Ford and Anne (E. L.) Posey; a brother-in-law, the Rev. Robert (Sarah) Taylor; and two sisters-in-law, Sarah “Sally” (the Rev. Guy) Brown, and Louise Taylor.

A memorial visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to service time, Saturday, January 26, 2019, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The memorial service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Randy Riley officiating and military funeral honors.

The family suggests that memorials take the form of contributions to Crown Hospice or the Salvation Army.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.

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