Janet Lynn Ford passed away at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. on Feb. 3, 2018. She was born in Vicksburg, Miss., on Feb. 12, 1945, to Fred L. and Florrie Bell Ford.

Dr. Ford graduated from the University of Mississippi with distinction in 1967. She continued her studies at Tulane University, earning her Ph.D. in Anthropology in 1977. Throughout her life, she received many academic honors including being elected to Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. She received the Taylor Medal at Ole Miss, and, in turn, served on the Taylor Medal Selection Committee for many years.

During her 40 years of service to the university and her students, she was able to pursue her special interests in the prehistory of Mississippi. Her love of the University and of Oxford will long be remembered.

She is survived by her brother, Fred Alan and his wife, Catherine, by her two nieces Anne Dervan and Eleanor Luna and their husbands and children, and by her cousin Patty Bates. Her family gratefully acknowledges the special gift of friendship bestowed upon her by Jay and Anne Johnson.

Memorial contributions in Janet’s memory may be made to or the University of Mississippi Foundation, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, 406 University Drive, Oxford, MS 38655.

For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, please visit our website at www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.