Kay Diane Sorber Ledford

On August 24, 2022, Kay Diane Ledford passed away peacefully at the age of 75. She is the daughter of the late Vernon T. Sorber and Angeline Gentile Kocher Sorber. A resident of Decatur, Tennessee, since 1977, Kay was born and raised in Berwick, Pennsylvania and was also a former resident of Dayton Tennessee. Kay attended elementary, junior high and high school in Berwick. She greatly enjoyed playing the clarinet and saxophone in the Berwick High School Band, remaining in contact with the best friends she made through that experience until her passing. Kay received a BA degree from Bible Baptist College in Clark Summit PA in 1969 and a MA in European History at Bloomsburg State in 1972. That year, she moved to Tennessee, accepting a role at Bryan College where she served as an adjunct professor of History before then serving as a teacher at Dayton City School for 3 years. She married James Henry Ledford in Dayton in 1973 and raised their two children Gina and Matt in Decatur. Kay was a compassionate and inspiring teacher of our community’s youth. She retired from the Meigs County School System after 25 years of service, teaching middle school and elementary school subjects of Math, Tennessee History and English at various points of her career and spending time at Meigs County Consolidated School and Decatur Elementary School. Kay also served as an adult and dual enrollment instructor of computer science at Meigs County High school and Cleveland Community College. Kay’s compassion extended beyond her students, reaching others in the community as well. She had a brief stint in the mid 80’s as a case worker for the Department of Human Services. After retirement, she continued her encouragement of learning as a volunteer and board member of the Decatur Public Library. In later years, she volunteered with her husband and other members of her church to provide free health care through the mobile St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic. Kay was an active member of Decatur United Methodist Church, serving as the pianist and choir director for more than 30 years. Kay had an abiding love for spending time with her family as well as pursuing personal interests in music, landscaping and reading. She is survived by her husband Jim Ledford, daughter and son-in-law: Angiolina (Gina) and Chris Trump, Son and daughter-in-law: Matt and Joellen Ledford, seven grandchildren: Tim Hodge, Anna Trump, Jake Trump, Cole Trump, Elijah Ledford, Jeremiah Ledford, and Hannah Ruth Ledford. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Decatur United Methodist Church with Rev. Joseph W. Manis, Sr. and the Rev. Hugh Bryan officiating. Interment will follow in the Decatur Cemetery. Family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m., prior to the service. Decatur Funeral Home & Cremation Services is honored to serve the Ledford family.