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Willie Mae Ledford

Willie Mae Ledford, 95, of Decatur, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at Sweetwater Hospital.

She was a member of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, and she owned and operated the family farm. She was a great mother and a friend to everyone. She was a great prayer partner and well known for her good cooking. She helped raise her two grandsons, Mike and Jeff Hayes, after the death of their mother. She was preceded in death by her parents, A.J. and Sarah Rockholt Cox; her first husband, Thomas Rubin Hayes; her second husband, Fred Ledford; one son, Billy Dean Hayes; and one stepson, Charles Ledford.

Survivors include one son, James Edwin \"Moose\" Hayes, and his fiancée, Rita Lenker, both of Decatur; one stepson and spouse, Jimmy and Kaye Ledford of Decatur; one stepdaughter, Louise Benson of Decatur; her former daughter-in-law, Patsy Hayes of Decatur; one stepdaughter-in-law, Margie Ledford of Athens; two sisters, Nellie Martin and Melissa Plank, both of Decatur; four grandchildren, Mike, Jeff, Mark and Deana Hayes, all of Decatur; step-grandchildren, Matt Ledford, Freddie Ledford, Gina Hodge, Sharon Benson and Shelia Bishop; four great-grandchildren, Tommy and Andy Hayes and Cameron and Clay Johnson; and four step-great-grandchildren, Timothy Hodge, Katie Bishop, Jennifer Bishop and Jude Ledford.

Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Monday in the chapel of Bowers Funeral Home with the Rev. Ron Dunn officiating. Burial will be 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery in Decatur.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Bowers Funeral Home of Decatur is in charge of arrangements.