With profound sadness and broken hearts, we are announcing the death of our beloved parents Henrietta Martin Ledford & Richard “Alvin” D. Ledford.
One of the things that console us during our time of grief is the knowledge that our parents after their marriage of 65 years will not have to face this world without each other.
HENRIETTA MARTIN LEDFORD
June 16, 1939 - September 14, 2021
Mom was born in Union County Georgia to Carl Stokely & Madie "Mae" Mease Martin. She was a devoted member of Mission Hill Baptist Church and a loving caring member of the Hiawassee Township/Shooting Creek community. Mom believed and lived by the Godly principle to have love toward God and love toward neighbor and she Truly believed everyone was her neighbor.
She worked for 49 years as co-owner & secretary/treasurer of Alvin D. Ledford Grading Corp, where she & dad instilled Honesty is the best policy. For years she made & decorated elaborate cakes and helped plan numerous weddings. She was an avid gardener of both vegetables and flowers, but her Greatest Joy in life was being “NANA” to all the kids and young people of whom she adopted as her own throughout the years, & especially to her two great- grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her grandson Benjamin Matthew Barnard, her parents, brothers Zeb, Harold & Ray Martin, sisters Dorothy Lewis, Faye Martin, Mary Bragg, Ruth Daniels, Anna Mae Jones and sisters in love Mary Ann Penland, Louise Parker, Mildred Woody & Diana Worley, daughter in love Kathy Hanley Conner.
She was survived by her husband of 65 years of exactly two weeks “Alvin D. Ledford”, son Alvin Ray Ledford & daughter Nancy & Alton Tipton, brothers Stokely Martin & R.L Martin, sister in love Dayton Moss, grandchildren Zachary & Brandon Ledford, Devin & Kristin Tipton & Anna Bruner, great grandchildren, Braiden Ledford & Gabriel Garcia. Numerous nieces & nephews, cousins & family friends of whom she dearly loved!
“ALVIN” D. LEDFORD
October 14, 1936 -September 28, 2021
Dad was born in Hayesville NC to Richard and Lassie Mae Donaldson Ledford. He was preceded in death by (14 days) his wife of 65 years Henrietta Ledford, his grandson Benjamin Barnard, his parents, his brother’s Garland, Arvil & Kenneth Ledford, sisters Betty Davis, Ruth Stamey, Opal Hughes & Mattie Stillwell.
He is survived by his children Alvin Ray Ledford and Nancy Ledford (Alton) Tipton. Grand-children Zachary & Brandon Ledford, Devin & Kristin Tipton & Anna Bruner, great grandchildren Braiden Ledford & Gabriel Garcia, a sister Janet & husband (June) Ledford. Numerous nieces & nephews, cousins & family friends of whom he loved!
He had a fulfilling life of doing what he loved and was talented not only in excavating and grading, but also in music, as he could play numerous instruments, and for years was a member of the Ledford Mountain Music Band.
He was born of poor, but honest farming parents, he had to quit school to help provide for the family to survive. He began working at the age of 12 for Neal Kitchens farming and logging. Neal gave him the opportunity to learn the basics of equipment and truck driving.
After he & mom married he began working on numerous highway construction jobs where he then learned how to pioneer roads, slope banks and operate numerous equipment, he worked with EPA, Forest Service, State & County officials & TVA building beaches & dams.
Dad’s love & legacy of developing & grading can be seen throughout our community as well as our surrounding areas as his workmanship of numerous home sites, subdivisions, roads, bridges, ponds, roadway areas ranged from Kentucky, Atlanta, Jellico & Tellico Tennessee, Marshall NC & our Blue Ridge Parkway, HWY 64 from Copper Hill Tennessee to Asheville NC, Russell Scenic Hwy in Blairsville Ga , Blue Ridge Power House Parkway Road, Blue Ridge Dam & Mineral Bluff River, Appalachia Dam, Hiawassee Dam & campgrounds, Pied Piper Campground.
He worked on many of our roads & parks here in Clay County as well Cold Branch & Jarrett Road, Gibson Cove Rec Area, Clay County Park & Rec Area, Veteran’s Recreation.
Of the many projects he has worked on, the ones he attained the greatest pleasure in accomplishing, was in collaboration with Sam & Tim Cox, Garland Hogsed & a few others who donated their time and equipment to construct and build the “first ballfield” for Clay County school children to play on & then again in 1998 the construction of the Outdoor Education Classroom in which he mentored high school boys during & after school working on this site.
Dad believed and tried to instill a work ethic to all of the younger men of whom he employed over the years. He truly was an example of a father who believed in providing for his family and accomplished many milestones in doing so.
At their request, due to COVID, there will be NO FUNERAL. As always, thinking of other’s first they did not want anyone else to get sick from showing their love, support & respect to our family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in their name to Union Hill Cemetery Fund C/O JoAnn H. Woody 685 Thumping Creek Road, Hayesville NC 28904 or Mom’s favorite charity - St Jude.org for children.
Townson-Rose Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements.