Dr. LaVargne Gunn-Ford Cherished

LaVargne Nadine Gunn-Ford, 73, of Monroe, Louisiana, passed away at 5:00 AM, Saturday, March 21, 2020 at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, LA. She was the daughter of the late Charley Gunn Sr. and Patsy Gunn.

She is survived by her son Jerry Patrick Ford and her daughter Elizabeth Rose Ford, her lone surviving sister Jocelyn Gunn Stephens, five grandchildren, numerous cousins, and countless friends/sorors/colleagues whose lives she has deeply touched.

Born LaVargne Nadine Gunn on January 13, 1947, to Charley and Patsy Gunn, in Monroe, LA. The youngest of six siblings: Elizabeth, Charlie, Evelyn, Patsy, and Jocelyn. She was jokingly known to her siblings as "The Spoiled One," because of her parents' propensity to let her get her way and baby her. She was raised on North 25th St. in Monroe, LA where she immersed herself in books and the lifelong pursuit of knowledge. Her family not only stressed education but also Christianity. LaVargne and her family were devout members of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Monroe, LA. She was an outstanding student at Little Flower Learning Academy where she excelled in her studies and also served as a teacher assistant/peer tutor during her high school years. She graduated at the top of her class and continued her matriculation at Southern University A & M College in Baton Rouge, LA.

LaVargne followed in her eldest sister Elizabeth's footsteps by going to Southern, becoming an educator, and being initiated into the Alpha Tau chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. Her matriculation at Southern turned the shy kid from Monroe, into a charismatic educator ready to mold the minds of her awaiting students. She graduated with a Bachelors from Southern with honors in August of 1968.

After graduation, she returned to Monroe to start her illustrious career as an educator at Crosley Elementary School. LaVargne quickly found her niche as a brand new educator, she was a natural. She eventually became Teacher of the Year at Crosley and still is beloved by her former students to this very day. While working as a young teacher, she began furthering her education at Grambling State University, where she received her Masters + 30. At this period, LaVargne's educational career was not the only aspect of her life that was taking off.

LaVargne soon thereafter met the love of her life, Jerry Woodrow Ford. They dated for years and eventually became husband and wife on June 22, 1975. He was a dashing young man from Bosco, LA that swept her off her feet. He was also an educator for several years just like his beautiful bride. To this union two children were born, Jerry Patrick Ford and Elizabeth Rose Ford. Her family life did not curtail her quest for knowledge or furthering her search for new techniques and tools to aid her in her educational career. She received her Doctor of Philosophy from Kansas State University.

Her new title of Dr. LaVargne Gunn-Ford allowed her to further her career in education. She worked as a professor at Kansas State University and Grambling State University. She also started moving into an administrative role as an educator at Berg Jones Elementary in a curriculum coordinator position. She quickly found herself as a principal at Opportunity Learning Academy and then Carver Elementary. Her success at these schools prompted her to a key supervisor role at the Monroe City School Board, where she headed up all the elementary schools in the district. After thirty-seven years of dedicated service to the educational realm, Dr. Gunn-Ford retired to enjoy her golden years with her husband to travel and attend to other concerns in her community.

Throughout her life, Dr. Gunn-Ford devoted much of her time to civic clubs such as Top Ladies of Distinction, Tab-N-Action Board of Directors, Monroe Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Les Martinique Club, OIC Board of Directors, P.E.E.P., and numerous other civic minded organizations that helped not only the youth but all members of the community in Monroe. She was a natural born leader and demonstrated this through her principalships and also in these civic organizations where she held various positions of leadership. She wrote over thirty proposals that received funding as grants on the local, state, and national level. These grants helped countless numbers of citizens throughout not only this community but plenty of others.

After thirty plus years of marriage, LaVargne was dealt a devastating blow. The love of her life passed away after a long hard fought battle with cancer. Jerry never left her hurt but she never truly got over the physical and emotional loss of her soulmate. Her failing health and grieving still did not stop her volunteering spirit. Dr. Gunn-Ford enjoyed nothing more than spending time with her grandchildren and teaching them social etiquette, manners, and how to give back to their community. She came up with the idea to help other grandmothers convey this same message to their grandchildren, by forming the Grandmother and Me social club. This was the last of her many endeavors that touched and uplifted so many lives.

Dr. LaVargne Gunn-Ford will be remembered for all that she has done for her community and family. She was a leader that touched so many lives in a positive way. Her community, church, colleagues, and family will miss her presence but will always have a special place for her in their heart. Visitation is 9 until 11 A.M., Friday March 27 at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Monroe LA. Burial will be Friday March 27, 2020 at Richwood Memorial Gardens, Richwood, LA under the direction of Smith Funeral Home.