Austin Raymond Ledbetter

Austin Raymond Ledbetter passed away on February 23, 2021 at the age of 93. He is survived by his wife Hughlette Ledbetter, his son Kevin Ledbetter, his daughter Teresa Taylor, and his daughter Renee Reed and her husband David Reed. Dad comes from a family of nine kids, and he leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews. On December 21, 1944, at the young age of 17, dad joined the Navy, and he retired from the Navy on June 1, 1965. Dad didn’t want a funeral or memorial. Here’s a poem his mother wrote about him many years ago: I can almost see you now as you lay in my arms so sweet, wrapped in your cheap little blanket so neat. You grew and with those pretty blue eyes and golden curls were as beautiful as anyone’s girl. In those days we were told it was bad luck to cut a boy’s hair until he was one year old. By that time you had such beautiful curls. One curl I tied with a bow and hung it upon the wall just so. It was a treasure of my heart. But in a short time it fell apart. Time didn’t stand still for soon you were six and to school had to go through the summer heat or winter snow. With the little overalls, shirt I had made and bare feet as you walked in the sand, you were the most precious little boy in the land. You didn’t have play-things like children do today, sometimes some marbles maybe made of clay. Sometimes you played with a stirrup and wheel pushing it over roads, hills, brook and field. The time you went hunting in the rain I remember that yet you covered your gun with your shirt so it wouldn’t get wet. There are so many things I remember all the while when you were a very, very small child. There was so much hard work troubles and things to make you sad. I hope the pleasures and good times outweighed the bad. The time passed by so fast and you were grown up and gone. Then you joined the Navy and had to leave home. How happy we were, it’s hard to believe, each time you came home on leave. Maybe sometimes we had fried chicken or possibly steak, always your favorite old fashioned chocolate cake. My love and best wishes have been for you since the day you were born that bright cool Wednesday September morn. And no more precious son could be than you have always been to me. Now you have a wonderful companion as sweet as can be. She is just like another daughter to me. There’s three precious children I know your pride and joy two sweet beautiful daughters and one fine handsome boy. As I sit here alone and lonely tonight, there are so many things I could write. I pray that the Lord above will keep your home filled with contentment and love. Love Always, Mother.