Dr. Jeffery Carl Ford

Jeff was born in San Diego, California on September 9, 1960, to Jesse and Helen Ford. He was the oldest of five children. Jeff spent his formative years in Simi Valley, California and was a 1978 graduate of Royal High School. He moved to Charlotte, NC in 1979 with his family.

Jeff was a man of many talents. Being able to do most anything led to a circuitous road toward finding his career path. As a young man, he showed early interest in science fiction. This led to his love of reading and becoming an aficionada of all things Star Trek (except Discovery). In high school, Jeff started wrestling and his brothers quickly followed his lead. During these years, he learned lifelong lessons and made lifelong friends.

Growing up he also showed an affinity for art and music. He had a wicked imagination and created ultimate haunted house experiences for different neighborhoods over many decades. He won an art scholarship in high school and worked his first job as a draftsman for his father. He later decided he wanted to be a rock star and began college as a music major. However, being a music major does not mean staying home playing the guitar and not attending class. Jeff eventually had an epiphany in a Hardees drive through and chose medical school. He graduated USC School of Medicine in 1990 and continued his education becoming a pulmonary fellow. For the next 29 years, he was a beloved physician to thousands of patients.

Jeff grew up in a large family that was always either camping, playing music, creating haunted houses together and always finding mischief. When Jeff became a father, he wanted his children’s memories as magical as his. He encouraged them to learn music, gourmet cooking, drawing, painting, love for the outdoors and traveling and finding their path in life. Jeff made their Christmas elf come alive. The elves would arrive each year on the Geminids meteor shower making a fiery entrance. With all his accolades and achievements, Jeff always believed his children were his greatest accomplishment.

Jeff was predeceased by his mother, Helen Louise Ford and brother, Jon Mark Ford.

Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Julie Culclasure Ford; son, Theodore (Ted) Charles Ford; daughters, Sarah Grace Ford and Lily Rowan Ford, SC; stepchildren, Joshua Culclasure, Cheyenne (Michael) Sims, Bethany Culclasure, Carine Culclasure, and grandchildren, Mikey and Arya Sims, all of Columbia SC; father, Jesse Ford; brothers, Joey Ford (Foy) of Pawleys Island, SC, Jerry Ford (Allison) of Modesto, California and sister, Judy Lang (Dale) of Lexington, SC. He also had many nieces and nephews that adored their “Funcle”.

A service to celebrate Jeff’s life will be at Dunbar Funeral Home, 3926 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205 on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 2:00PM. There will be a reception for friends and family immediately following the service. There will also be a streaming link on the Dunbar website for those who are unable to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.