Michael Jerry Ledford

November 5, 1952-June 14, 2025

A celebration of life for Michael will be held Friday, June 27, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at LIFE Community Church, 4900 W Wendover Ave, Jamestown, NC 27282. The family will receive friends and loved ones one hour prior to the service at the church, from 10:00 a.m. until service time. There will be a private burial at Guilford Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mike Ledford is among the few people who are truly Greensboro natives. He was born at St. Leo’s Hospital in 1952, and is the youngest of five children. All of his siblings, as well as his parents, are from the Shelby, NC area. They moved to Greensboro so that Mike’s father could work at Cone Mills.

Mike has lived in many areas of Greensboro. He attended public schools, and graduated from Smith High in 1971. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force, in which he served active duty from 1972-1976. The first two years, he was stationed at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC as a Ceremonial Guardsman with the United States Air Force Presidential Honor Guard. During this time, examples of his duties included military funerals (mostly at Arlington Cemetery), pass and review by visiting dignitaries, various ceremonies and events at the White House, wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, ceremonial firing party, and ceremonies for the return of POW’s and fallen soldiers. The third year of Air Force he served as a Law Enforcement specialist in Korat, Thailand. Then the fourth year he was stationed at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama. He often said this was his service in “LA,” (lower Alabama). Mike joined the USAF North Carolina Air National Guard in 1981.

Mike returned to Greensboro, and was hired by the Greensboro Police Department in 1976. Diverse experience was gained through the years as a street officer, youth detective, vice and narcotics detective, tactical division (stake-outs), supervisor/sergeant of the bomb team and background investigator for new police applicants.

During the years of Mike’s career in Greensboro, he and Marilyn met through a mutual friend, Kay Marlowe (Joham). M and M were married February 24, 1979, had daughter Miriam, and now also have son-in-law Aaron Vinson and three grandchildren, Emma, Vivian and Maximus Vinson. M and M have been active members of LIFE Community Church (formerly Hunter Hills Baptist) since 1998.

Mike is double-retired from the Greensboro Police as well as from the NC Air National Guard. Due to his exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand, serious health problems developed, and he became a disabled veteran.

Mike spent his years of retirement as full-time “Popi-Dad” to his three grandchildren. He was known for spoiling them with love, attention, and carbonated beverages. He enjoyed sharing family stories and life wisdom with them. Many trips to the beach were enjoyed with his grandchildren, and he loved to watch them go fishing and play in the surf.

As Mike, Marilyn, Aaron, Miriam, Emma, Vivian and Maximus were packing up to come home from a wonderful week at Carolina Beach, NC, Mike became terribly ill. All that could be done for him was done, and he died at the beach on Saturday, June 14. Though our hearts could not be more broken, we are thankful that our precious last week with him was spent together.

The employees and management of Atlantic Towers, where we stayed, were very compassionate and generous as they helped us through the emergency. We also commend New Hanover Medical Center in Wilmington for caring for Mike as he passed. Carolina Beach police, fire and EMS are appreciated for their role in emergency care and transporting Mike to the hospital.

Other survivors in Mike’s immediate family include sister Linda Shurly (Ed) and brother Odes W. Ledford, Jr. (Jane). Also, nephews Bill Ledford (Lea), Brian Ledford, Jeff Harris (Lupe), and nieces Michelle Ledford and Marla Knowles (Chris). Mike’s great-nephews and great-nieces are Billy, Landon, Jordan, Brennan, Christopher, Brooke and Ashley.

Mike was predeceased by his parents, Odes W. Ledford, Sr. and Annie Mae Ledford, as well as brother Roger Ledford and sister Pam Harris.

Mike’s “happy place” was really the mountains, although he loved the beach, too. When younger and healthier, he was quite the boater, fisherman, hiker, camper, runner, and basketball player. He was quite social, and loved to get together with all those he loved and called friends. His personality was easy-going and happy, cool and calm, perceptive about people, generous and caring. It was because of his serious following of the Lord Jesus Christ that he was all these wonderful things, and more. There’s nothing he would want more than for his friends and family to all receive the Lord Jesus, and live for Him.

Memorial gifts may be sent to:

LIFE Community Church Building Fund, 4900 W. Wendover Ave, Jamestown NC 27282

Greater Greensboro Youth for Christ, POB 516, Greensboro, NC 27402

Greensboro Urban Ministry, 305 West Gate City Blvd., Greensboro, NC 27406-1240

Disabled American Veterans, POB 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301

Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfhsedgefield.com