Thelma 'Maxine' Holder Ledford

Funeral services for Thelma “Maxine” Holder Ledford will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 25, 2023, in the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel.

A private family burial will follow in the Fairlawn Cemetery, Snyder.

The family will greet friends Friday evening from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

The service may be viewed by following the livestream link at www.beckerfuneral.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.

Thelma “Maxine” Holder Ledford, 91, of Lawton joined her heavenly father on Sunday, November 19, 2023. She was born January 5, 1932, to Horace Knox “HK” Holder and Jessie (Countryman) Holder in Mountain Park. She grew up on a farm just west of Mountain Park.

She attended Consolidated 8 (Con 8) school and graduated with 11 other students in 1949, serving as Vice-President of her class. After completing high school, she earned an associate degree from Cameron Agricultural College in 1951 and a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1953. Ever the avid learner, Maxine continued her education and graduated with a Master of Teaching Degree from Southwestern State University in 1967. Maxine met Herman Ledford while attending Cameron College. They married in Mountain Park on June 3, 1951, and were blessed with four children, Jan, Keith, Kent, and Keegan. During their marriage, Maxine worked alongside Herman as he served as a pastor for several churches in Southwest Oklahoma. She was an active member of First Baptist East, where she loved her Sunday school class and attending church.

Maxine was meant to become a teacher. She served students for 31 years, most of that time as a teacher at Brockland Elementary School in Lawton. She was Lawton Public Schools Teacher of the Year in 1976-1977 and received many accolades throughout her career. She was active in many organizations, such as the Association of Classroom Teachers, Professional Educators Association of Lawton, Kappa Kappa Iota Rho Conclave, and Delta Kappa Gama. She was passionate about her students and frequently bumped into them around town.

Following her retirement in 1993, she dedicated her time to her family and serving the community. She would often be seen cheering on her grandchildren at their events and volunteering with organizations such as the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary and Comanche County Retired Educators Association. She was a great wife, mom, and the best grannie in the whole world. She lived her life in service to God and is now in Heaven with Him.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 73 years, Herman Ledford; her daughter Jan Spannagel, Lawton, her son Keith Ledford of Lawton, her son and daughter-in-law, Kent and Rebecca Ledford of Walters, her son and daughter-in-law, Keegan and Bonnie Ledford of Lawton; grandchildren: Carie Spannagel, Chad Spannagel, Morgan Ledford, Courtney Ledford, TJ Burkey, Taylor Daniel and husband Conner, Jacob Ledford and wife Chayanne; great- grandchildren: Ariella Oser-Ledford, Maverick Ledford, Ripp Daniel, and Tuff Daniel. She is also survived by her brother and wife, Voyle Holder and Jan, many nieces and nephews, and her former daughter-in-law, Martha Ann Taylor.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, HK and Jessie Holder, brother Tom Holder, and her son-in-law, Alvah “Alvie” Spannagel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist East, 3302 SE Lee Blvd, Lawton, OK 73501 or to the Lawton Public School Foundation, PO Box 2323, Lawton, OK 73502.