Rev. James A. Ledbetter was born on July 11, 1942, in Anson County, to the late Mr. Lacy Ingram and Mrs. Blennie Walls Ledbetter and raised by his stepfather Mr. James Ledbetter. Rev. James A. Ledbetter went home to his eternal resting place on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, while in Hospice Care. He was preceded in death by both parents and stepfather, three brothers, Walter L. Walls, George Walls, and Cordell Ingram; two sisters, Bobby J. Thompson and Garthine Allen; one great-grandson, Xavier Martinez.

James attended William Penn of High Point, NC, for his formal education. From there, he joined the U.S Military in 1961. After the military, he enrolled into Guilford Technical Institute (currently known as Guilford Technical Community College) where he obtained his General Educational Development (GED). After receiving his GED, James joined the High Point Police Force, where he worked for four years as a motorcycle officer. James decided he needed a change in his current career, so with the aid and encouragement of his brother, Henry Ledbetter, James became a licensed cosmetologist in 1977. James worked for several years in the salon with Mrs. Gussie Robinson and later branched out on his own, opening “The Magic Wand” his very own salon. James was well known in High Point for his “curls”. After working in hair for several years, James returned to his law enforcement career, where he worked as an armed guard at the IRS building for The Paragon Systems. James worked for Paragon Systems for thirteen years, where he retired due to health issues.

As a young man, he attended Kings Chapel Holiness Church of High Point, NC. Kings Chapel is where he accepted his calling into the ministry. From there, he attended and later joined Temple Memorial Baptist Church of High Point, NC. It was at Temple Memorial Baptist Church, where James was ordained as a minister on July 19, 1988, by the Rowan Association. During his tenure at Temple Memorial, he was a dedicated member serving as the Associate Pastor under the late Dr. L. L. Macon and Dr. Arthur L. Byrd. At his passing, James was a member of Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church of East Spencer, NC, under the leadership of his son, James A. Ledbetter III. James was a strong believer in God. His favorite book in the bible was the book of Proverbs.

In 1978, James was united in marriage to Felecia L. Curtis, who he affectionately called “Cil”. From their union were born two lovely children, James A. Ledbetter III and Joy N. Ledbetter. James and Joy will forever remember their father as being someone who would come home from after working all day and give them rides on his back or race with them in the yard. James enjoyed the game, hide & seek with the kids. That was short-lived once James and Joy became of age to scare him. After being scared, his famous line to say, “You did not scare me. I kicked at your head 11 times”. The reality was, he was standing there shaking with his eyes as wide as a 50 cent piece.

If you knew James, you knew he loved giving orders, and he always had a taste for some good fatback meat, hog-mogs, and country ham! James will be forever well known for his sense of humor but most of all, his instinct to protect his family, and those in his presence as well as a provider for his family.

Rev. James A. Ledbetter leaves to cherish his memories his devoted wife of 42 years, Felecia C. Ledbetter, his five children, Mr. Christopher T. Ledbetter, Mr. Timothy R. Ledbetter, Mrs. Tonya Y. (Leroy) Georgia, all of Thomasville NC, Rev. James A. (Jessica) Ledbetter III and Ms. Joy N. Ledbetter all of High Point, NC; he is also survived by ten grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren; along with his five brothers, Henry (Vickie) Ledbetter of Seattle, WA, Rev. Lacy (Mildred) Ingram Jr. of Woodbridge, VA., Riston (Audrey) Ingram of North Chesterfield, VA, Rev. Aaron (Brenda) Bennett of Odenton, MD, and James Smith of Greensboro, NC; seven sisters, Mrs. Rosa (Clarence) Nelson, Ms. Carolyn Delores Ledbetter all of High Point, NC, Rev. Dr. Donna Ingram McNair, Mrs. Omy Ingram Barber all of Wadesboro, NC, Mrs. Zura Ingram Thomas of Lilesville, NC, Annie J. Hairston of Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Brenda (Rodney) Nivens of Kernersville, NC; two special god-children, Kyndal Curtis and Myles Curtis, both of High Point, NC.

A private memorial service will be held Saturday, May 8, 2021 at Phillips Funeral Service Chapel.

Final arrangements are entrusted to Phillips Funeral Service, Inc.