Obituary of James Dewey Ford Sr.

Funeral services for Mr. James Dewey Ford, Sr. will be 3:00 pm Thursday, June 18, 2015 at Usrey Funeral Home in Talladega with Rev. Alan Broome officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Hill Memorial Park. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to services. Mr. Ford was a native of Talladega and lived in Cedar Bluff for the past 20 years. He was a member of Disabled Vietnam Veterans of America, VFW, and Blind Veterans Association. He retired from the US Army in 1974 after serving more than 17 years. Mr. Ford's career in the Army was cut short by medical complications due to him being exposed to the chemical Agent Orange during his three tours of duty in Vietnam. He obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant prior to his retirement from the Army. Mr. Ford served in the Army Security Agency as a Morse Code Interceptor. During his tours of duty in Vietnam he was often attached to units of Special Forces (Green Berets) and Studies and Observations Group of Military Assistance Command (SOG) at remote locations in the jungles of Vietnam to intercept radio commutations by the enemy. While in the Army Mr. Ford also had tours of duty in Japan, Italy, Germany and Thailand. Mr. Ford received numerous medals, awards and decorations during his time in the US Army. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ford, daughter, Kim Ford Gordon, granddaughter, Faith Gordon, nieces, Valerie Burrage (Eric), Jacqueline Gaines (Shaw), Zim Overstreet, Sherry Jean Mullinax, Debbie Anderson, Frankie Ann Graham, Jan Atchey, nephews, John F. Ford (Carol), Timothy Ford (Pam), John Ford (Wylene), and several great-nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his son, Jimbo Ford. Honorary pallbearers will be Friends of Bill W. Centre Group. Special thanks to The Cancer Center of Gadsden and Dr. Harrison.