I have a 2000 ford ranger limited , 2 wheel drive with the 2.5 engine. Automatic transmission. A few days ago the overdrive stopped working. Yesterday, I got in the truck. Put the truck in reverse and reverse worked find. Put the truck in drive, it jerked then died. I have tried multiple times with the same results.

 

Could be, but does not have to be, Sometimes a retaining ring for overdrive servo will break and pieces get stuck in valve body.
It would be a good time to get a 2nd or 3rd opinion on this.
Depending on how involved you want to get with this you could drop the trans pan and check for parts in bottom. If that is the case , all you need to do is get another lock ring (retainer ring) , remove valve body and look for piece jammed in one of the valves.