I stayed with Mamaw and Papaw pretty frequently while I was growing up.  Papaw would always come pick me up from school on the Fridays that I came to visit.  My elementary school sold concessions on Friday afternoons.  Each Friday, Mamaw would give Papaw strict orders not to buy me a bunch of junk food from the concession stand as it would spoil my dinner.  Ever since I was little, I’ve loved dill pickles and every Friday Papaw would buy me the biggest dill pickle they had, along with some candy.  Every time we walked in the door, Mamaw would say the same thing . . . “Johnny, I told you not to do that.  That big ol’ pickle will spoil her dinner or make her stomach hurt.”  Papaw would just chuckle and give me a sweet smile.  He wasn’t one to tell me no very often.  Papaw taught me all about snow cones he was my customer while I played waitress, and even played beauty shop with me allowing me to put rollers in his hair.  He taught me how to bait a fishing hook and catch Crappie.  And of course after we caught Crappie we had to have a fish fry.

My Mamaw was such a tender hearted woman.  Each night I stayed, I normally slept in her room.  For as far back as I can remember she talked to me about saying my prayers each night and never once do I remember staying the night when she didn’t pray for all the blessings in her life . . . especially her family.  I remember waking up to homemade biscuits and fried eggs each morning.  I loved when we had beef stew for dinner and Mamaw always took the time to drop a few ice cubes in mine so it wouldn’t be too hot.  She loved to cheer on, or sometimes yell at, the Dallas Cowboys on TV.  She would watch, sing, and clap along as I pretended to be a famous country singer singing Randy Travis’s “Forever and Ever, Amen.”  At night we would all watch the news and Mamaw and Papaw would have bread and milk as a bedtime snack.

My grandparents were a good, loving couple with hearts of gold.  They were dedicated to their family and most of all to one another.  72 years of marriage isn’t something you or I will see often in our lives, or maybe even ever again.  On Saturday when my Papaw passed away, I wrote this on my Facebook page:

“My sweet Papaw was called up to be with his wife, my Mamaw, early this morning.  Married for so long and he passed just four days after her.  This week has been so hard, but I think it is a beautiful ending to a real life love story.  God was ready for two more angels . . . he sure got two good ones.”

And he did . . . he sure got two good ones.  Now I’m not much of a morning person so my husband sets our alarm each night and gets us all up and going in the mornings.  His alarm plays a Christian song by Mercy Me called “I Can Only Imagine.”  The chorus of the song says:

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I’ve found myself wondering this week how Mamaw and Papaw reacted to being welcomed into the kingdom of Heaven.  I don’t know if they danced and sang or were silent and still, but I do know they will be missed.  I find solace in the fact that they were reunited for eternity and will now rest together.  If that’s not a happy ending, I don’t know what is.

Daddy,

You have always been my hero.  I treasure the times we were able to just hang out and do father/son things.  Thanks for showing me the importance of working hard and saving for the future.  Dad, it was an honor to have you at my wedding, standing beside me as my best man. . .

I miss you daily and long to hear you say "son I love you."  Daddy, when you accepted Christ into your life, I praised God knowing that I will see both you and Mommy again.

I Love You,
Michael

Mom,

First and foremost I love and miss you everyday.  Thank you for raising me to be the man I am today.  Thanks for making our house a wonderful home.  I remember as a child and adult always feeling your love for me.  Mommy, I find peace knowing you are not in pain anymore and are with Daddy and Jesus in Heaven.  I know someday I'll see you again.  I thank God for His promise of this.  Mommy, you and Daddy have blessed your children beyond belief.

Love forever,
Michael

Any friend of the boys was always welcomed at the Ledford home.  The first question asked when you walked in was "are you hungry?"  Mr. Ledford was so calm and patient to put up with all our foolishness and there was plenty of it.  I will always remember what Mr. Ledford told me one day at General Motors as we were talking about raising children, as I had just had my third.  You always love the child, but you will not always love the child's ways.  The LEDFORDS were quality human beings, thankful I got to share life with them.

Dad always said, "Hey girl" and gave me a big hug.  He was like my dad.  I called him Poppy.  He taught me how to fish, and I taught him how to clean fish with an electric knife.  We were fishing buddies.

Mom and I were very close.  When she was in the hospital she told the nurses and doctors that I was her daughter.  I was proud to be called her daughter.  When we were in the kitchen together she always put an apron on me.  She loved to go to garage sales with me.  I will miss them very much.

I want to thank my parents for the life they gave me.  They gave me value, taught me how to treat people and how to make a dollar.  I miss them every single minute.

I miss my parents everyday.  I especially miss them on Mondays.  I would eat breakfast with Mike and then go see them for 2 or 3 hours.  I loved them with all my heart.  

I worked with my dad at General Motors for 12 years.  I picked him up every morning and took him home every afternoon.  I will always remember this.  It was some of the best times of my life.

Mable and  John were two of my favorite clients on my Meals on Wheels route.  I will miss their smiling faces and words of gratitude each time I delivered their meals.  Such a sweet and loving couple!

Johnny & Sharen..... you are the two most unselfish people I know and proud to call my friend.  I pray you find peace and comfort during this difficult time.  Always in my prayers.

Words cannot express how blessed I have been by the privilege of having taken care of your Mother and getting to know you all.  The love and devotion your parents had for each other was reflected in the love you all showed for them by honoring that love in their final days.  I know I speak for my entire ICU family when I say that we will never forget them or y'all and were reminded once again of the reason we do what we do.  Bless you all and may the love your parents had continue to influence your lives for years to come.

It was a pleasure and honor to know the Ledford family and be there during their transition from this life into the next.  God bless all of your family!

Jessica Weeks, RN

To the Ledford Family,
It was an honor to have cared for not only your Mother but your Father as well. I had the chance to hold your Mother and your Fathers hand in their time of sickness and it was a blessing in my life. I pray for you all during this time of sorrow and I pray that you all find some peace in knowing that they will never ever be seperated again. The have eternity to be together in peace and in health. May God bless you all.

To the Ledfords,

I am proud to have cared for your family. The love your parents share will always truly be one of a kind. My sympathies to you all during this painful time. They are together now and I pray that you all will take comfort in knowing that.

-Drew Hudson R.N. Arlington Memorial ICU

To the Ledford family.  It was a great honor to care for your Mother and Father and to have the opportunity to meet such a beautiful family.  May your hearts pain be short lived; and the joy be great... in knowing that they remain together in eternal love.  Sincerely,  Maryanne Weeks R.N. Arlington Memorial ICU.

I was.reading your parents obituaries, you don't know me, your parents deaths was just as mines, it was 14 days when my father passed  after my mother's death. It was so touching a    love til death do them. Praying for  your family, take care. From a careing person.

Michael, I am sorry to hear of this heavy loss. You and your family are in my thoughts.

Mike,

We are so sorry for your loss.  The love you had for your parents was so evident from the first time we met.  The words you spoke to me have been lingering in my ears, "A perfect ending to a beautiful love story."  Yes indeed, yes indeed. May you be comforted in knowing they are together forever.

Prayers,
Jeff, Valerie, Vivian, Lilian and Clairian Martin

Mike...my heart goes out to you and your family. you are in my hearts and prayers. I think of you everyday. You're a wonderful man, with a loving heart and strong will. I am here for you..always. May God bless and comfort you and your family.

Michael, a heart felt sorrow for your loss. May they rest in peace with our heavenly father. I wish you well. Stay strong for you will meet again. Prayers on the way. 
.
Luke Rangel

Im proud and honored to have had the time I had with the best Grandparents a Grandson could have.I love yall with all my heart and the two of yall will be with me forever

Michael, Johnny Wayne, and Dean, I am keeping you all in my prayers! Im SO sorry for your loss! If there is anything I can do, you have my number! Love you forever!

May the Grace of God hold you and your family in his loving arms and give you comfort.

UNCLE JOHNNY AUNT MABLE IM AM SO HURT TO SEE YOU GO BUT IM HAPPY TO KNOW WHERE YOUR GOING AND THAT WE WILL MEET AGAIN SOME DAY I AM GOING TO MISS YOU BOTH SO MUCH I CANT CALL YOU NO MORE CUZ HEAVEN DONT HAVE NO PHONES ILL MISS TALKING TO YALL I LOVE YOU BOTH YOU WILL ALL WAY HAVE A PLACE IN MY HEART GONE BUT NEVER FOR GOTTEN 
MARIE RASCO AND JOHNNY

Michael, may God grant you peace knowing that your parents are together in heaven. My condolences to you .

OBITUARY

John & Mable Ledford

Laurel Land – Rose Hill Memorial Park and Funeral Home

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