Laura Jo Owen Ledbetter, "Jody," 81, most recently of
Williamsburg, VA gained her angel wings and went to be with her
Lord on Tuesday, January 15, 2024 . She was a native, of Anniston,
Alabama and talked of returning there, even right to the end. Jody
and her husband James moved back to Anniston after James retired
from a 26 year military career. There, they built their "forever home,"
but in 2021 they moved to Virginia to be closer to their children and
grandchildren.
Because James was in the Air Force, moving every few years
was necessary. Jody was dedicated to James in moves to include
overseas tours to Tainan, Taiwan, Kaiserslautern, Germany, and
many Air Force bases in the United States. She loved the adventures
that the new places provided and enjoyed the opportunity to make
new friends. Some of those special friendships even lasted a lifetime.
Jody was determined, and succeeded, to make a home for her
family wherever they went.
Jody was an avid reader and enjoyed Amish fiction books by
Beverly Lewis and period books on the Holocaust. She also loved
crafting and spent many hours doing plastic canvas crafts to include
tissue box covers, Christmas ornaments, and door knob hangers. She
also spent much of her time doing jigsaw puzzles, word search
puzzles, and coloring.
Above all else, Jody had so much love in her heart. She was so
very proud of her family and loved them dearly. She and James were
married when they were both just 17 years old and had been married
for almost 63 years when James passed away in 2022. They raised
two children together, Lisa and Jimmy. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to "train
up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not
depart from it." This verse shows that parents should teach their
children right from wrong and help to develop good character. This
was Jody and James' goal for their children.
Jody was predeceased by her parents, Charlie Floyd Owen and
Alice Laura Johnson Owen, and most recently, her beloved husband,
James Norris Ledbetter, Sr. She is survived by her daughter, Lisa
Brady and husband Jeff, her son, Jimmy Ledbetter and his wife Sue.
Grandchildren, Kevin Barker, Laura Bransford and her husband Nick
Bransford, Nick Ledbetter, Jacob Ledbetter, and great
grandchildren, Avery and Leo Ledbetter. Jody is also survived by her
loving siblings, Charlie Fred Owen and his wife Cheryl, and Teri Owen
Beasley as well as her "like a son", special friend John Brown. Lastly,
she leaves behind her beloved dog Dixie.
The family would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff
with Sentara Hospice to include Rachel, Hannah, Tenisha, Tamika
and Janmarie for showing such compassion and taking care of our
mom and "Oma" as she transitioned to her Heavenly home. To quote
the wise words of Winnie the Pooh, "If there ever comes a day we
can't be together, keep me in your heart. I'll stay there forever."
Jody was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and COPD. The
family requests in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to any of
the following: the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (alzfdn.org),
the Dementia Society of America
(https://dementiasociety.charityproud.org/donate), the American
Lung Association (https://action.lung.org) or to her church, Grace
Church Williamsburg (https://gracechurchwilliamsburg.org).
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at
12:00pm with services at 1:00pm Anniston Memorial Funeral Home,
3865: US-431, Anniston, Alabama 36206 with a graveside service
immediately following at Anniston Memorial Gardens 4000-US 431.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those
who are crushed in spirit.