Carmen Ford, FNP-C

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Carmen Marie Lunn Ford, FNP-C, 39, Family Nurse Practitioner for Vanderbilt Heart of Columbia, and lifelong resident of Columbia, passed away at home after a short battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Columbia First Cumberland Presbyterian Church on the Nashville Hwy, with Rev. Chris Caldwell officiating. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Monday, November 11, 2024 from 4:00 PM till 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

The family suggest memorials may be made to the Porter Ford Future Care Endowment Fund at Heritage Bank. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Born January 17, 1985 in Columbia, TN, she was the daughter of Julie Hardison (Buddy) Jones and Randall (Mary) Lunn. Carmen graduated Valedictorian from Culleoka High School in 2003 and went on to receive her degree in Radiology from Columbia State Community College in 2006. From there she went on to get her certification in Nuclear Medicine and started her medical career with Vanderbilt Heart of Columbia from 2006 till 2019. In 2019 she went back for her Nursing Degree and then in 2020 to UT Knoxville for her BSN Degree in Nursing. While working at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville from 2019 till 2023, she completed her Master’s Degree as an FNP Nurse Practitioner at UNA in December of 2022. In March of 2023 she got her dream job as a Nurse Practitioner with Vanderbilt Heart of Columbia. Carmen’s love of helping people will never be forgotten. 

On October 25, 2008, she married the love of her life, James Butler “Jimmy” Ford. Carmen was a loving wife, mother, and daughter, and her greatest joy came from watching her daughter, Harper cheer; and her son, Porter play football. She also loved spending time with her family at the Tennessee River. Carmen was a member of Columbia First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

In addition to her husband and parents, she is survived by her daughter, Harper Marie Ford of Columbia; son, Porter Ford of Columbia; sister, Amber (Kit) Peden of Culleoka; nephews, Tuff & Olli Peden; special aunt, Jan Hardison (Herb) Smith; in-laws, Mike & Lojune Ford, Ruth “Me Maw” Ford, and Jan Tingle.

She was preceded in death by grandparents, Dan “Paw Paw” & Jean “Minnie” Hardison, Herbert & Mildred “Granny” Lunn, and Joe “Paw Paw” Ford.

Active pallbearers will be Jimmy Ford, Porter Ford, Garrett Lunn, Justin Robinette, Jason Bratton, Brett Jones, Shan Azar, and Dr. Kevin M. Maquiling. Honorary pallbearers will include the employees of Vanderbilt Heart of Columbia.