Mrs. Mary Ella Crow Ledbetter

Our beloved Mother and Grandmother Mary Ella Crow Ledbetter passed away peacefully at her home with family by her bedside at the age of 89 on April 27, 2026 She was the daughter of Nolan and Corine Crow and grew up on a farm in Geraldine AL with her 5 siblings. She attended Geraldine High School and made many lifelong friendships that were nurtured over the years through phone calls, cards, and the occasional casserole. While in high school she met the love of her life, her husband of 65 years Vester. Together they had 5 children that they were incredibly proud of. She loved sharing in their hopes and dreams throughout the years. Especially as they became adults and had lives and families of their own. Mary was very fortunate to have been loved by her children’s spouses. There were many times they stepped in to share in the care of Mary and Vester without hesitation. Mary and Vester had a wonderful life together full of love, laughter, ice cream sundaes and enjoying a good book. Mary was an avid reader and passed that on to her family. Mary frequently visited both the Geraldine and Crossville libraries and would take her grandchildren to the summer reading programs. She loved teaching children and would volunteer weekly at the elementary school to help students with their reading. She was also a volunteer for the Headstart program in earlier years. Mary was well known throughout the community. She worked at Geraldine Drugs for over a decade and never met a stranger. She was always kind and was willing to help anyone who came in. After her retirement she could often be found volunteering in the gift shop at MMCS as a member of the Pink Ladies. Mary was a devout member of The Church of Christ and showed the love of God to everyone she encountered. She was a wonderful example of a Christian Wife, Mother and Grandmother, and we are so thankful for her and the influence she had in our own Christian walks. Mary’s grandkids had a very special place in her heart. She never hesitated to go on a hike, play in the creek, watch for birds, play dress up, read a story, pick flowers, sing silly songs, grab a puzzle out of the closet, have a snack of round crackers, apples or vanilla ice cream. She loved with her whole heart, and you could feel it. She welcomed everyone into her home and if you were lucky there would be a fresh batch of tea cakes on the counter. She was a wonderful neighbor with some of them feeling like family. Mary had a very full and rewarding life that is hard to condense into paragraphs. Mary once wrote that “Treasures of time can’t be put into your pocket, they have to be stored in your heart” She was the heart of our family and she is already missed. She is survived by her children: Wayne (Barbara) Ledbetter, Penny (Mike)Bagwell, Mike (Rita) Ledbetter, Dee Ledbetter, Chris (Belinda) Ledbetter Grandchildren: Sabrina (Reggie) Burns, Shane Ledbetter, Stephen(Chelsea) Bagwell, Cara(Eric) Arnold, Morgan (Jeremy) Portwood, Grant Ledbetter, Amanda Smith and Jennifer Galimes Great Grandchildren: Bailey (Morgan) Gable, Reece Burns and upcoming baby Portwood in the fall. Great Great Grandchildren: Ella Lynn Gable Sister: Barbara Davis and a host of nieces and nephews She had three special care givers during her last years. Her loving sister-in-law Francess Chandler, also Debbie Wade and Jo Smothers. She was preceded in death by her husband Vester Ledbetter Parents: Nolan and Corine Crow Siblings: David Crow, Charles Crow, James Crow and Elaine Gilbert

Mrs. Mary Ella Crow Ledbetter

August 28, 1936 - April 27, 2026