Mr. John H. Ford

John H. Ford was born June 22, 1922, in Elko, Georgia to the late Nathaniel Ford and Mrs. Mary Napier (Hart). He married Evelyn Turner, and to this union one daughter, Valerie A. Ford of Valdosta; and two sons, John H. Ford II and David J. Ford of Atlanta, were born.

Mr. Ford was a graduate of Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama, where he received his BS degree in Industrial Arts. Additional studies were completed at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, where he was issued a Department of Education Teacher’s Certificate.

He is a WWII, Vietnam Era Vet, and part of the Tuskegee experiments where Nazi scientists were sent to America to annihilate the Negro race. This study absolutely goes down as one of the most horrific atrocities in history against any race. He was very strong. Doctors describe him as a most unusual patient. He has been video taped by rounds of physicians, residents and interns at different teaching hospitals over the years (even 20 at a time). He suffered a lot.

He was injected with the Syphilis/Gonorrhea virus a freshman student at Tuskegee. They were told they were getting required vaccinations, while in school for the Army/Air Force Aircraft Training Program. Though tracked by the Army, the airmen were not treated. He trained on Molten Field. He also worked on the B52 Bomb, in Michigan and served on the front lines in the Philippines, Okinawa, and later Korea.

As a Negro Squad leader, his unit’s job was all dirty work: picking up dead bodies and body parts from the front lines and in tanks to spray them with DDT. His first week of battle, the line was reversed and Japanese bombs came in from the rear and he was wounded. He never received a Purple Heart for that valor, always being told, “he was one of those who fell through the cracks.” The world’s greatest military veterans records’ mysteriously burned in military vaults in Missouri around 1975. Then again, records from Tuskegee have disappeared and/or burned; including burning the Tuskegee Newspaper Office, courthouse records and the Tuskegee Attorney’s office records. Older Black Veterans have had to fight for everything, including their own dignity.

He was an active member of Antioch Baptist Church since 1959, having served as Financial Secretary and Trustee of over 25 years. He was always an active member of the Valdosta High School Band Boosters and Wildcats Touchdown Club during the Butenchon, Bazemore, and Hyder years.

Mr. Ford was an only child. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his devoted cousins: James Ford and Debra Ford of Detroit, MI, and Arthur Johnson of Valdosta, GA; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; life long family friends: Julius J. Brown & Dr. Amanda J. Brown family, the Clifford O. Griffin children, the family of the late Esther J. McMillan Williams family; one great god-child: Deairra Schulte; and loving family dogs: Armani, Zahanni, Barack, and Jazz.

The celebration of life for the late Mr. John Henry Ford will be held Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 4:00pm, from the sanctuary of First Antioch Baptist Church.

Rev. Albert Lee Barfield is the pastor.

Rev. Wayne Joseph will officiate.

Interment will follow in the Jacksonville National Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida.