Jack R. Halford, MD, 89, passed away Aug. 4, 2018, at his home in Oxford. He was a native and life-long resident of Memphis, Tenn.

Jack attended high school at Central High where he played football and was an all-state player. He went on to play football on scholarship at Vanderbilt University. He graduated from the University of Tennessee Medical School as valedictorian in 1953 (AOA). He did his internship at the naval hospital in Oakland Cali. and served as a flight surgeon for the U.S. Navy.

Jack entered private practice in Memphis in 1957 and was on the same corner for 32 years before moving to Germantown to practice medicine there with his son, Danny. Over the years, Jack was awarded Family Physician of the Year for the State of Tennessee, was Chief of Staff at St. Francis Hospital, served as President of the Memphis Chapter of Family Practice and held numerous other offices.

Jack was loved and respected by his patients and peers, and in many instances, treated three or four generations of the same family.

Jack was married to his beloved wife, Barbara Jean Coleman, for 66 years. They raised together, in a home filled with love and laughter, four children, Ricky, Danny, Jeff and Lisa.

Jack and Jean were founding members of Woodland Presbyterian Church, where he served as deacon and elder. He studied his Bible daily and his faith in Jesus guided his life.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife Jean, parents Hollis and Mary Halford, older brothers Hollis Jr. and Frank. He is survived by his brother Robert, his four children, thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Jack loved the outdoors – camping, fishing, hunting, hiking and gardening. He especially enjoyed an annual camping and canoeing trip with the Halford men and boys. Jack loved time with his family and had a great sense of humor, curiosity and enthusiasm for life. He is loved and missed greatly by all of us.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Memorial Park Funeral Home of Memphis. There will be a visitation at the funeral home at noon on Thursday, Aug. 9, followed by the service at 1 p.m. The service will be officiated by Jack’s nephew-in-law Rob Thorpe, with songs/music by daughter-in-law, Melinda Halford.

For more information, contact Memorial Park Funeral Home at 091-302-9977.