Back in 1945,the Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets couldn't boast of five consecutive state titles because a state basketball tournament hadn't been developed. But if it had, this team may have been the cornerstone on which the Lady Jacket dynasty might have been built. Robenia Ledford played on this team.The other team members were: Mary Crawford, Nel Ledford, Mozella Johnston, Peggy Crawford, Polly Crawford, Frances Swains, and Clara Padgett.
Robenia "Benie" was named the most valuable Yellow Jacket basketball player. She was fast on the court, and rarely missed a basket. Her flaming red hair flew behind her, and the opposing team parted when she charged across the floor. Her Irish eyes dared anyone to interfere with her scoring.
Robenia's yodeling resounded all through the Matheson Cove. She had a rare gift of singing that involved singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changed in pitch from the vocal chest.
Robenia was attractive, trim, and dressed neatly. She had a ready smile. She grew up during the time when girls wore starched and ironed dresses. She even ironed her socks! She was self-conscious of her freckles and, like Amelia Aarhart, didn't think freckles made her beautiful. Robenia used many jars of anti-freckle cream on her face.
Martha Robenia Ledford Merritt, 82 of Hayesville, NC passed away Sunday, Oct 7, 2012 in a Murphy medical center. She was a native of Clay County but moved briefly to Michigan. There she met Rick Merritt and they married before moving to a suburb of Los Angeles. She lived there for nearly 40 years. She returned to Hayesville and to the Matheson Cove homeplace after her brother Ralph Ledford died in 1993.
She was the daughter of the late Robert "Bob" Lee Ledford and Minnie Lee Matheson Ledford.
Surviving are a daughter, Janice Lee Bartlett of Hayesville; a son Richard Merritt of Los Angeles, Calif.; a brother, Reuben Ledford; five grandchildren, David, Nicholas and Eric Merritt, Michael Fox and Jacob Bartlett; and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at 7 p.m., Friday Oct. 12 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home.
Robenia "Benie" was named the most valuable Yellow Jacket basketball player. She was fast on the court, and rarely missed a basket. Her flaming red hair flew behind her, and the opposing team parted when she charged across the floor. Her Irish eyes dared anyone to interfere with her scoring.
Robenia's yodeling resounded all through the Matheson Cove. She had a rare gift of singing that involved singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changed in pitch from the vocal chest.
Robenia was attractive, trim, and dressed neatly. She had a ready smile. She grew up during the time when girls wore starched and ironed dresses. She even ironed her socks! She was self-conscious of her freckles and, like Amelia Aarhart, didn't think freckles made her beautiful. Robenia used many jars of anti-freckle cream on her face.
Martha Robenia Ledford Merritt, 82 of Hayesville, NC passed away Sunday, Oct 7, 2012 in a Murphy medical center. She was a native of Clay County but moved briefly to Michigan. There she met Rick Merritt and they married before moving to a suburb of Los Angeles. She lived there for nearly 40 years. She returned to Hayesville and to the Matheson Cove homeplace after her brother Ralph Ledford died in 1993.
She was the daughter of the late Robert "Bob" Lee Ledford and Minnie Lee Matheson Ledford.
Surviving are a daughter, Janice Lee Bartlett of Hayesville; a son Richard Merritt of Los Angeles, Calif.; a brother, Reuben Ledford; five grandchildren, David, Nicholas and Eric Merritt, Michael Fox and Jacob Bartlett; and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at 7 p.m., Friday Oct. 12 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home.
Back in 1945,the Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets couldn't boast of five consecutive state titles because a state basketball tournament hadn't been developed. But if it had, this team may have been the cornerstone on which the Lady Jacket dynasty might have been built. Robenia Ledford played on this team.The other team members were: Mary Crawford, Nel Ledford, Mozella Johnston, Peggy Crawford, Polly Crawford, Frances Swains, and Clara Padgett.
Robenia "Benie" was named the most valuable Yellow Jacket basketball player. She was fast on the court, and rarely missed a basket. Her flaming red hair flew behind her, and the opposing team parted when she charged across the floor. Her Irish eyes dared anyone to interfere with her scoring.
Robenia's yodeling resounded all through the Matheson Cove. She had a rare gift of singing that involved singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changed in pitch from the vocal chest.
Robenia was attractive, trim, and dressed neatly. She had a ready smile. She grew up during the time when girls wore starched and ironed dresses. She even ironed her socks! She was self-conscious of her freckles and, like Amelia Aarhart, didn't think freckles made her beautiful. Robenia used many jars of anti-freckle cream on her face.
Martha Robenia Ledford Merritt, 82 of Hayesville, NC passed away Sunday, Oct 7, 2012 in a Murphy medical center. She was a native of Clay County but moved briefly to Michigan. There she met Rick Merritt and they married before moving to a suburb of Los Angeles. She lived there for nearly 40 years. She returned to Hayesville and to the Matheson Cove homeplace after her brother Ralph Ledford died in 1993.
She was the daughter of the late Robert "Bob" Lee Ledford and Minnie Lee Matheson Ledford.
Surviving are a daughter, Janice Lee Bartlett of Hayesville; a son Richard Merritt of Los Angeles, Calif.; a brother, Reuben Ledford; five grandchildren, David, Nicholas and Eric Merritt, Michael Fox and Jacob Bartlett; and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at 7 p.m., Friday Oct. 12 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home.
Robenia "Benie" was named the most valuable Yellow Jacket basketball player. She was fast on the court, and rarely missed a basket. Her flaming red hair flew behind her, and the opposing team parted when she charged across the floor. Her Irish eyes dared anyone to interfere with her scoring.
Robenia's yodeling resounded all through the Matheson Cove. She had a rare gift of singing that involved singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changed in pitch from the vocal chest.
Robenia was attractive, trim, and dressed neatly. She had a ready smile. She grew up during the time when girls wore starched and ironed dresses. She even ironed her socks! She was self-conscious of her freckles and, like Amelia Aarhart, didn't think freckles made her beautiful. Robenia used many jars of anti-freckle cream on her face.
Martha Robenia Ledford Merritt, 82 of Hayesville, NC passed away Sunday, Oct 7, 2012 in a Murphy medical center. She was a native of Clay County but moved briefly to Michigan. There she met Rick Merritt and they married before moving to a suburb of Los Angeles. She lived there for nearly 40 years. She returned to Hayesville and to the Matheson Cove homeplace after her brother Ralph Ledford died in 1993.
She was the daughter of the late Robert "Bob" Lee Ledford and Minnie Lee Matheson Ledford.
Surviving are a daughter, Janice Lee Bartlett of Hayesville; a son Richard Merritt of Los Angeles, Calif.; a brother, Reuben Ledford; five grandchildren, David, Nicholas and Eric Merritt, Michael Fox and Jacob Bartlett; and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at 7 p.m., Friday Oct. 12 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home.
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