A resident of Independence, LA, passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. She was born July 9, 1946 in Hammond, LA and was 79 years of age. She is survived by her daughters, Lois Roxanne Ford Porter, Charlotte Renee Wilkinson, and Pamela Lynette Wilkinson; 2 sons, Norice William "Billy" Ford (Jennifer) and John Merrill Wilkinson (Jennifer); brother, Carl Smith; grandchildren, Calvin Ford, Heather Ford Duran (Aaron), Kacie Nicole Ford, Michael James Porter, II (Dana), Abigail Alzada Ford, Ty Travis Ford, Crystal Hunt Hankins (Reece), Rodney Paul Hunt, Jr., Kyle Austin Fletcher (Kaitlyn), Trevor Cain Fletcher, Lacie Lynn Fletcher, Laramie John Wilkinson, and Nicole Erin Wilkinson; 18 great-grandchildren, Kevin, Chelsea, Abel, Brayden, Hayden, Freya, Kayleigh, Britney, Brody, Hudson, Braxtun, Jace, Londyn, Landus, Kendall, Kace, Kip, and Karter. Preceded in death by her parents, Eula Mae Cutrer Smith and Norice "Red" Smith; first husband, Calvin Ford; second husband, Merrill Wilkinson; son, Kevin Duane Ford; grandson, Travis Paul Porter; great-granddaughter, Angel Marie Ford; brother, Lawrence Ray Smith; sisters, Dorothy Smith Triche and Mary Nell Stewart Phillips. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9:00AM until Religious Services at 11:00AM on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Interment Ford Cemetery, Independence, LA. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.