Alice Ledbetter

in death by her parents, Ruby Patterson Heard and Rupert Heard. Alice is survived by her

husband Gene H. Ledbetter, daughter Anne Marie Ledbetter, son-in-law Steve Houghton, and

cousins from the Heard and Patterson sides of the family. Alice grew up in East Point and was a member of the First Baptist Church of East Point. She attended grammar school in East Point and graduated from Russell High School in 1942. Next, she graduated from the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. For advanced study of art, she attended the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. In the summer months, Alice served as a camp counselor in a school for girls in the mountains of North Carolina. She always considered this time well spent.

Alice had a lifelong career in advertising and art, starting with a position of Assistant Advertising

Manager at Regenstein’s, a fashion store on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. Several years later,

she was promoted to Advertising Manager. She stayed at this job for several years, before

retiring to do freelance work. One of her freelance accounts was Davison’s, a Macy’s-owned

department store in Atlanta. She later took a full time position as Assistant Art Director at

Davison’s. On June 12, 1953, Alice married Gene H Ledbetter in a ceremony at the First Baptist Church in East Point. On January 16, 1961, a daughter, Anne Marie Ledbetter, was born. Alice retired from her career again to raise a family. Alice and family joined the Northside Drive Baptist Church in Atlanta in 1963. Alice was active in assisting the junior choir and also helped with choir publicity while Anne was growing up. In the early 1970’s, Alice and Gene founded A La Carte Graphics, Inc, a graphic design business with offices in Atlanta. They moved the business to Smyrna in 1981. Alice ran the business side and contributed to the creative side as well. She made two trips to the World Olympic Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland to research Olympic history. The research contributed to A La Carte’s cloisonne-type pins sets that they designed for a number of national accounts, especially the Coca Cola Company.

Alice studied piano for 12 years during her grammar and high school years, and was an

accomplished pianist. Alice inherited an antique parlor reed organ from her mother. She would

play old hymns, possibly the hymns originally played on the organ, especially for the delight of

her father who would listen for hours until Alice’s pumping legs would tire out.

One of Alice’s great loves was the beauty of cloud formations, especially at sunset. She and

Gene had several advantageous locations for sunset watching and would hurry there whenever

possible. Her love of cloud formations is obvious in her early watercolor paintings.

Alice was never one to find fault in other people, but was more likely to defend their actions if

possible.

Dementia took away Alice’s ability to walk and her ability to talk, but it could never take away her smile.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 11 at 3 o’clock at Northside Drive Baptist Church with Dr. James Lamkin officiating. Interment will be Monday, November 12 at 11 o’clock at Westview. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, contributions to be made to Northside Drive Baptist Church, 3100 Northside Drive, NW Atlanta GA 30305. Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill.com.