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This week The Greenville Advocate spotlights 88-year-old Odessa Ledlow of Talladega County.

 

Q: When and where were you born?

A: Talladega County, Alabama in 1929

 

Q: Who were your parents?

A: M.A. and Lola Matson

 

Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?

A: 6 sisters and 3 brothers, I was the baby.

 

Q: Where did you attend school?

A: Talladega High School

 

Q: What do you recall most from your childhood?

A: A happy home and pleasant memories of how my parents raised me.

 

Q: Where have you lived?

A: My husband was a minister after we married. We lived in many different places:

Billings, Montana

Mobile, Alabama

Cordova, Alabama

Montgomery, Alabama

Decatur, Alabama

Sylacauga, Alabama

Detroit, Alabama

Greenville, Alabama

 

Q: What is your husband’s name? What did he do for a living?

A: Edward B. Ledlow. He graduated from Business College and he wanted to be a commercial lawyer, but he felt called to the ministry. He was a wonderful pastor.

 

Q: Do you have any children?

A: two daughters—Rhonda and Donna

 

Q: What made your spouse the one for you?

A: I believe it was sealed in heaven. I couldn’t have gotten a better person in the world. He was wonderful. I believe he fulfilled what God had for him to do. I just believe he was the perfect one for me.

 

Q: What advice do you give married couples for them to have a long, healthy marriage?

A: You need to know God as your savior. He needs to be the head of the house. Go half and half. Share with your spouse, love the Lord, and pray that he will give you a happy healthy home.

 

Q: Where do you attend church?

A: The United Methodist Church

 

Q: Where did you work?

A: I was a pastor’s wife. I mainly worked different jobs wherever we moved.

Perhaps my favorite was working at a stamp store. People used to receive stamps when they bought groceries. With the stamps, they could come to the store and redeem special prizes. It was a fun job!

 

Q: Do you have any grandchildren?

A: I have 3 grandchildren and 1 great grand child

 

Q: Do you do a lot of traveling?

A: I used to. I have been to the Holy Land 3 times. We were so privileged to go. I loved it! I’ve been to places in the United States too. I love the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls, those are just places that stand out.

 

Q: What inventions have you witnessed that intrigue you? Why?

A: The television because when I was a child, we just had a radio to listen to.

 

Q: What keeps you busy these days?

A: I come here to the nursing home almost every afternoon to visit. I also go to the church, and I sing in the choir. With my church work, I stay pretty busy.

 

Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

A: I can remember being at my mama’s house and my older sisters and brothers would come in and it was just a wonderful time!