Lacy K. Ford Jr.

Born January 2, 1952, in Clover, SC, he was the only child of the late Lacy K. Ford, Sr. and Martha Brandon Ford. From his small-town roots, Lacy grew into one of the nation’s leading historians of the American South while remaining deeply rooted in his home state. Proud and grateful for his public education that shaped him, he studied in South Carolina’s public schools from Clover Elementary to his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina.

Lacy devoted his life to the University of South Carolina—his alma mater and the place where he built a distinguished career as professor, Chair of the History Department, Senior Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. His work reshaped understanding of the political and moral complexities of the antebellum South. His books, including Origins of Southern Radicalism and Deliver Us From Evil, remain foundational in the field, and his final work, Understanding the American South, was published in 2024. He received many honors, including fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Humanities in 2023.

Yet for all his accomplishments, Lacy never carried himself with pretense. He was known for his humility, quick wit, gift for storytelling, and steadfast kindness, along with a deep commitment to the success of others. He was as generous with his time as he was rigorous in his thinking—a thoughtful leader and trusted mentor. To thousands of students, he was a gifted teacher who believed deeply in the life of the mind and the importance of asking meaningful questions.

Beyond the classroom and the written page, Lacy loved life in ways both simple and joyful. He loved sports, especially Gamecock basketball, baseball, and football, and relished attending games with family and friends, turning ordinary outings into memorable occasions. Those who knew him best often speak not first of his intellect, but of his goodness—a quiet, steady presence marked by warmth, humor, and generosity of spirit.

At his core, Lacy believed that history, honestly told, could guide us toward better choices. That belief shaped both his scholarship and his life—one marked by integrity, fairness, and a desire to contribute to something larger than himself.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Hudson; his stepchildren, Travis Hudson (Laurens, SC) and Sonya (Will) Sonneman (Ocean Pines, MD); his grandchildren, Emma Hudson, Calvin Sonneman, and Bert Sonneman; and a wide circle of friends, colleagues, and former students who will carry forward his legacy.

A celebration of Lacy’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Downtown Church (2030 Gregg St) of Columbia. The family will greet friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Lacy K. Ford” Scholarship Fund https://donate.sc.edu/direct-your-gift?fund=0a9117e7-7e26-4816-bd2b-8c8c45a5b74e at the University of South Carolina or to Downtown Church. https://www.downtownchurch.me/give