Olson Ledford, pastor for 50 years, dies at 81 CANTON - The Rev. Olson

P. Ledford, 81, of 14 Patton Ave., died Sunday, Dec. 13, in a Hay-wood County hospital.

Born in Madison County, Lecl-ford was a son of the late Hillary and Lula Grooms Ledford. He was a former resident of Buncombe County and had lived most of his life in Haywood County. A Baptist minister for 50 years, he served as pastor of the following churches: East Canton, High Street, Rocky Face, First Baptist Church of Maggie Viti-ley and the Red Bank. He had also conducted a radio ministry Olson Ledford in his earlier years.

Ledford had owned Luther Grocery at Candler and was a for-mer employee of American Enka Co. He retired from Champion In-ternational in 1971 following 25 years of service. At the time of his

death, he was an active member of High Street Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Dollie King Ledford; two daughters, Bet-ty Kuykendall of Panama City, Fla., and Margaret Koutris of Can-dler; four sons, Johnny Ledford of Charlotte, George Ledford of Enka, Buddy and James Ledford, both of Canton; two sisters, Mamie Lee of Canton and Elsie Cogburn of Clyde; a brother, Thelmore Led-ford of Jupiter, Fla.; 13 grandchil-dren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Canton chapel of Wells Funeral Home. The Revs. Christo-pher Willett and Claude Conard will officiate. Burial will be in Bon-A-Venture Cemetery on Old Clyde Road.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the fu-neral home, and at other times, will be at the residence.

Memorials may be made to High Street Baptist Church Build-ing Fund, Box 468, Canton; or Haywood County Rescue Squad, Box 1275, Canton 28716.

Rev. Olson 1'. Ledford

Rev. Olson P. Ledford. a native of Madison County. born in 1911, was one oi five chiidren 1-ie ·.vas .:in ordained Baptist minister having served :n Haywood County for over 50 years . He was pastor or the following churches. East Canton. High Street. Rocky Face. Rec Bank. and First Baptist of Maggie Valley (Olivet/ twice. He also con-ducted radio :ninisrry ·n his earlier years.

He was married to the former Doilie King. They had wo daugn ers. Berty Kuyken-dall of Panama City. FL, and Margaret Koutris of Candler. and four sons, Buddy and ,James Ledford of Canton. Johnny Ledford of Charlotte, and George Ledford of Enka. He had two sisters. Mamie Lee of Canton and Elsie Cogburn of Clyde and one brother. Thelmore Ledford of Jupiter. FL. 13 grandchildren. 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandch1ldren. Rev. and Mrs Ledford celebrated their 65th veciding anniver-sary in October. 1992.

The Lora called im home on Sunday December l3. 1992. at ·he age . t 21

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