Jane Diamond Ford, a lifelong resident of Mobile, passed away on March 4, 2024 at the age of 78. She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward Raymond Ford, Jr., and her parents, Lester Young Diamond, Sr. and Gladys Waller Diamond. She is survived by her three sons, Edward Raymond Ford, III (Heather), Benjamin Young Ford (Camille), and Patrick Bryan Ford; brother, Lester Young “Chip” Diamond, Jr.; and grandchildren Reagan Margaret Ford, Edward Raymond Ford, IV, Baylor Thomas Ford, Thomas Edward Ford, Rebecca Jane Ford, Benjamin Moore Ford, and Bailey Kathryn Ford.
Jane was born in Mobile on July 31, 1945 and grew up on Dexter Avenue. She was loved dearly by her parents, her brother and her favorite Aunt Vivienne (“Bibby”), who she shared a room with and who taught her to ride horses, play the piano, and read the night sky. Jane is a proud graduate of Murphy High School, and prior to Murphy, Jane attended Barton Academy, where she met the love of her life, Ed Ford, in the 8th grade. Jane went on to graduate from Auburn University where she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. Jane passionately loved Auburn athletics, and she and Ed never missed a game.
Following college, Jane taught at Davidson High School before leaving the school system to raise her three sons. Jane never stopped teaching, however. For many years she taught Bible study classes and was the self-proclaimed “chief prayer warrior” at her beloved Ashland Place United Methodist Church. While Jane was a true scholar of the Bible and educator, her real gift was the way in which she connected with and influenced her “students” and generally anyone else who was fortunate enough to know her. A genuine extrovert, Jane made friends with everyone she met and had a knack for making others feel loved. And no remembrance of Jane would be complete without mentioning her devotion to all God’s creatures, especially the four-legged ones. Her door was always open to any animal in need of a home.
Jane’s passion for helping others was further demonstrated though her willingness and act as guardian and caretaker for several elderly women suffering from memory-related illnesses. Her experience in caring for these women eventually led to her authoring a guidebook for navigating the long-term care process.
However, Jane’s most valuable contribution was to her family. She was a dedicated wife and mother, who was always willing to dish out wisdom or hugs. She doted on her sons and loved watching them compete in sports. On many nights at Municipal Park, Jane and Ed could be seen running from field-to-field, trying to keep track of simultaneous games played by their sons.
Jane loved many and was loved by many. While she will be dearly missed, she leaves a lasting legacy of kindness and love for the Lord.
A celebration of life for Jane will be held at Ashland Place United Methodist Church on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., with the memorial service starting at 11:00 a.m. and burial afterwards at Pinecrest Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com for the Ford family.
