Janice Renita Ford

Janice (with a “C”) Renita Ford was a proud native East Texas girl.  She was born to the parentage of Arthur Lee and Jo Mack (Fagan) Ford on March 12, 1959.  She was raised in Diana, TX where she was a long-time member of East Springfield Baptist Church -- where she was an usher and frequently served as mistress of ceremony for programs.  Janice attended grade school through high school in Diana. In high school, she was a member of the school band – she was first chair flute.  She graduated from high school in 1977 with honors.

After high school, Janice attended Wiley College in Marshall, Texas; while there, she excelled academically and pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.  She LOVED her pink and green and she loved her HBCU alma mater!  Janice graduated from Wiley in 1981 magna cum laude.

After college, Janice managed Whataburger stores in Longview, Wichita Falls, and Lawton, Oklahoma.   While managing the stores, Janice pursued finding her dream job in her college major of social worker.   Following the homegoing of her grandmother, she returned home and began to work fulltime at Sears and Roebuck in Longview, TX.   Shortly thereafter, Janice landed a job with the state and started her career as a social worker.  While employed by the state of Texas, Janice was a social worker for adults in which she worked in various state agencies (TWC, TEC, DARS, and eventually Juvenile Rehabilitation).  It’s important to note that she continued working for Sears and the state simultaneously.  Before she retired, she graduated from the University of North Texas with a master’s degree in social work.  When eligible and after some health issues, God blessed her to be able to retire from both her jobs with nearly 30 years of dedicated service for each employer under her belt.

Janice was a social butterfly AND chatterbox – LOL!  She enjoyed chattin’ it up with friends and loved ones.  She served her community and was thoughtful and generous almost to a fault.   She was a champion for scholarship, culture, and excellence.  She attended cultural, social events/performances, and exhibits with her girlfriends.  She was a fan and cheerleader for her nephews and the underdog.  However, Janice’s renowned claim to fame was her love of shopping!   Anybody who knew Janice knows that she was a TRUE shopaholic.  She shopped and shopped and shopped!  Also, Janice loved her TV shows and sporting events, BUT more than anything she enjoyed doting, bragging, spoiling, and supporting her nephews and lately her great nephew.

Although Janice’s health was compromised the better part of her adult life, she never stopped living “her best life” up until she was called home.  In 2016 (after the passing of her mother), Janice relocated to Rockwall, Texas to be closer to family due to dialysis treatments she needed and endured in order to survive.  Upon arrival to Rockwall, Janice quickly started attending New Caledonia Missionary Baptist Church and faithfully did so until the Sunday prior to her being called home.

Janice is proceeded in death by her parents.  She leaves behind, to embrace her memory, her brothers Gerald Lee Ford of Prescott, Arkansas, Stevie Leon Ford (Carla) of Forney, Texas, her nephews Bryce Kincaid Ford of Forney, Texas, Barclay Tait Ford of Forney, Texas, and her great-nephew Enzo Leon Ford of Forney, Texas, and a host of other extended family and endeared friends to remember and cherish the life she lived.

Click to Download Janice Ford's Program