Thelma Ginevieve Ledford

Thelma Genevieve Ledford was born April 24, 1919 in Locust Grove, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of David and Vicey E. ìDollî Etta (Wheat) James. Thelma moved with her family at an early age to Osage where she attended school, graduating from Osage High School in 1937. Thelma was married to John Joseph Ledford on August 3, 1940 in Cleveland, Oklahoma. The couple made their initial home in Cleveland, where she accepted employment as an operator at the Cleveland telephone office for Bell Telephone. In 1956, the family moved to California, Thelma was then transferred to a position with the Pacific Telephone Company and later worked as a supervisor for the AT&T Company. Joe and Thelma later returned to Cleveland and resided here until Joe passed away on April 15, 1982. Thelma remained in Cleveland for a while and then moved to Hemet, California to be closer to her daughter. She returned to Cleveland a few years ago and made her home on Dunlap Street for a while before returning to California. Thelma later returned to Cleveland, residing at the Baptist Village for nearly three years prior to moving to the Cleveland Manor Nursing Home for health reasons. Thelma passed away on Friday, December 17, 2010 at the Cleveland Manor Nursing Home at the age of ninety-one. In addition to her husband, Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, Dave and Doll James; sisters, Ethel James, Mable Fisher and husband, Dutch; brothers, Bill James, Jesse James and wife Joan; and a nephew, Jesse James, Jr. The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Terena Roe for all her help and support.