Happy 85th, Helen Ledford

Happy 85th birthday, Helen Ledford!

prologue by PATTI STOKES

I first met Helen Ledford when our son, who recently turned 34, was in kindergarten at Oak Ridge Elementary School. She was the assistant teacher in his classroom and did a very commendable job of working with boisterous 5-year-olds; as a wonderful bonus, her artistic creations were always on display throughout the classroom, in the arts and crafts items the students enjoyed making with her guidance, and in the hand-drawn “badges” awarded to those students who managed to go the entire school day without requiring any disciplinary action (I still have some of those treasured badges our son earned).

I can’t say what prompted me three years later, not long after I had launched what was then the Oak Ridge Observer, to ask Helen if by chance she enjoyed writing as well as drawing. I’ll just chalk it up to my good fortune, because I had no idea back then what a gifted writer she was, and how much our readers would come to enjoy her homespun stories in the years to follow.

Besides appearing in the Oak Ridge Observer, and what later evolved into the Northwest Observer, Helen’s writings and illustrations have been published in her hometown newspaper, the Caswell County Messenger, and many other newspapers over the years. And, she’s written and illustrated two books – “Helen Jean Stories” and “The Mistletoe Tree and other stories” – comprised of her memories of

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she enjoyed writing as well as drawing. I’ll just chalk it up to my good fortune, because I had no idea back then what a gifted writer she was, and how much our readers would come to enjoy her homespun stories in the years to follow.

Besides appearing in the Oak Ridge Observer, and what later

Photo courtesy of Lenore Morales Northwest Observer contributing writer Helen Ledford celebrated her 85th birthday Feb. 16. Helen has written for several newspapers during her lifetime, including for the Northwest Observer for the last 20+ years. She has also published two books comprised of stories from her childhood and two children’s books.

growing up on a Caswell County, North Carolina farm in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s with her Mama Allie Farthing, “a passel of siblings, and the Lord only knows how many dogs, cats, ducks, and other beasts.” She’s also written and illustrated two children’s books, “The Amazing Mr. Boggle-Dy.Woogle” and “Toby: The Little Duck who Liked to Climb” (her books can be purchased online at www.lulu.com – search for “Helen Ledford”).

It’s been a privilege to share Helen’s stories and articles with our readers in northwest Guilford County over the last 20+ years. Whenever one arrives in my email inbox, I always wait to read it until I can get a fresh cup of coffee and take a deep breath while preparing to let my imagination sink into the world that she grew up in.

As the youngest of 10 children, Helen and her siblings lacked an abundance of material possessions but never wanted for love and laughter. I thank Helen for bringing this simple world to our readers and to me – her touching accounts of a time, a place, and cherished loved ones long since gone have truly been a gift, and I hope her stories will continue to grace this newspaper for many more years to come.

Happy birthday, ‘Mama,’ friend, teacher

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The following comments and birthday wishes were compiled by Helen Ledford’s daughter, Lenore Morales, and posted on the Northwest Observer’s Facebook page by our readers

“What do you give someone who has so much? This question came up as my mother’s landmark 85th birthday recently approached,” Helen Ledford’s daughter, Lenore Morales, wrote. “Helen Ledford certainly has one of the largest collections of people to whom she is utterly special of anyone I know. She has always been one to ‘see,’ connect with, and encourage people in her path. So, for her ‘quarantine’ birthday, I wanted her to read thoughts from some of the local people who appreciate her so much. Many know her as the life of the party; others would say she changed their lives. Happy birthday, Mama!”

Katrena Dalton of Oak Ridge is one of Helen’s former kindergarten students and is considered by her mentor to be an honorary daughter.

“What an honor to celebrate a woman who has touched my life,” Dalton wrote. “I have called her ‘Mom’ for many, many years and am thankful for her friendship.”

San Juana Ramirez – aka “Janie” – met Helen the first year her grandparents had become her legal guardians.

“I will never forget that time in my life when I was brought to a new state and to the people who cared for me,” Ramirez said. “I had just lost my stepdad, who had told me one day he would take me to see a place where trees lost their leaves and they changed colors. A place where there were hills and sometimes snow would cover the ground. He was my lifesaver and had protected me from my abusive mother.

“When I was handed to my grandparents I was loved and never singled out as a grandchild or adopted,” Ramirez continued. “Helen came into our lives and did more. She was nice, funny, and gave me a chance to continue striving for more. She didn’t just let me be ‘another Hispanic girl in her traditions and ways.’ I continued those values my stepdad had implemented in me and I feel that is why I am who I am. I won a beauty contest, and took trips I might not have gone on. My husband, Samuel, and I are so grateful for Helen and her family. (I want to) let her know she was placed in my life by my father and stepdad, and that I love her.”

Oak Ridge Elementary School teacher Carl Cockman describes Helen as a “classic!”

“She has the unique ability of being a wise sage of many years and a youthful adolescent filled with the wonders of being alive. I will always cherish the times I spent with Helen, Jack (Helen’s late husband), and the rest of the ORE gang! Happy 85th birthday, dear friend! May God bless you!”

Sandy Moskel, owner of Sandy’s Beauty Shop in Oak Ridge, said it’s been a delight to know Helen since Sandy’s son was in the second grade (in 1979).

“Since then, it has been an inspiration to watch her draw her cartoons and all the things she has done and the books that she has written,” Moskel wrote. “I have enjoyed being able to purchase them for my nieces and nephews.”

Luci Milam wrote on the Northwest Observer’s Facebook page that she still remembers “Mrs. Ledford ‘pinning’ us with ‘good’ badges every afternoon before school let out!”

Other Northwest Observer readers wrote of the angel ornaments “Mrs. Ledford” made for her students long ago when they were in kindergarten.

“Each year I place my kid’s Christmas angels on the tree that you made for them when they were in kindergarten!” wrote Sue Piver-Lewis. “I still have the T-shirt with the red teddy bear you painted for my son! Not only have your stories been a blessing, but (so has) all the love you gave to our children!”

Another Oak Ridge Elementary School teacher, Michelle Cole, remembers meeting Helen when she first came to the school in 1994 as a new teacher.

“She greeted me with warmth and a helping hand,” Cole wrote. “To my delight, I had the pleasure of having her as my assistant in our kindergarten class the year that she retired. She amazed the children with her ‘magic scissors’ as she turned an ordinary ...continued on p. 34

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