An Issaquena County sheriff’s dispatcher was killed early Friday in a one-car accident on Mississippi 14 about 1 1/2 miles east of Mayersville, according to the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol.

Issaquena County Coroner Angela Brown said Helen Ruth Ford, 63, of Mayersville was pronounced dead at the scene. She said the cause of death was unknown pending an autopsy.

MHP spokesman Cpl. Odis Easterling said the accident occurred about 1:04 a.m. Friday when Ford’s westbound 2004 Chevrolet Malibu ran off the road and overturned. She was not wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected, according to the accident report. The accident remained under investigation.

Issaquena County Sheriff Richard Jones said Ford had been a dispatcher for 17 years. He said she had been off Thursday and was due to return to work Monday.

“She had worked some long hours and put in some overtime, and asked to have some time off,” he said.

Jones said she also worked as a bus driver for the Friends of Children Head Start Center.

“She was well-liked,” he said.

“She came on like a tough person, but once you got to know her, she was a good person,” said deputy circuit clerk Ronda Delaney. “She would help anyone. She would give you the shirt off her back. She would call the clerk (Circuit Clerk Erline Fortner) and check on her every night.”

Delaney said Ford was always talking about the children on her bus.

“Everybody loved her. We’re going to miss her,” she said.