Leta Mae Waddle Langford's Obituary
Leta Mae Waddle Langford of Nashville went to be with Jesus on April 7, 2024 at the age of 95. She was born on January 16, 1929 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Rev. Homer Elbert Waddle and Myrtle Lily Millsaps Waddle. She married William Clay (W.C.) Langford on May 28, 1947. Together she and W.C. had three boys, Lawrence (Larry), Robert (Bob), and Richard. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, husband W.C. Langford, son Larry Langford, son Richard Langford, as well as her brother Verl Raymond Waddle, and her sister Sylvas Iola Pendleton.
Leta was a licensed minister, author, singer, and teacher. She spent her life praying for others. As the daughter of a minister, she traveled with her family to preach the word of God. She would play the piano for the services and her dad preached. She and her dad subsequently had a weekly gospel radio show for many years. The night after graduating from Litton High School, she married W.C., and they began a life of ministry together that took them to Kingsport, TN. Soon after the birth of Bob, they moved back to Nashville to start Belmont Assembly of God on Music Row. While living in the back of the church for the first five years of their ministry in Nashville, Leta was able to minister to all walks of life which set the backdrop for her book, “Living in the Shadow of Music Row: Stories from the Heart of Music City”. She could be found at the piano much of the day playing, writing songs, and worshiping Jesus. Her honky-tonk style of playing the piano was unique, especially in church. In the early 1980’s, W.C. and Leta had a vision for a church on Franklin Pike. Belmont Assembly relocated and was renamed Oak Hill Assembly of God where she tirelessly poured into the church family until the mid 1990’s when they retired as lead pastors. Their church ministry continued for a bit as W.C. took the honor of preaching on Sunday mornings at the Mt. Vernon Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Eagleville. Leta continued to minister to so many over the years through prayer, words of encouragement, and a listening ear. She prayed for others till the very end.
She is survived by her loving son Bob (Wynnelle) Langford, granddaughters Kori Langford, Jennifer (Michael) Harris, and Ashleigh Johnson, great-grandchildren Carson Briscoe, Cameron Briscoe, Audrie Johnson, and Callen Harris, and many brother and sisters in Christ.
Visitation with the family will held on Friday, April 19 from 1pm-3pm with the service following at 3pm at Oak Hill Assembly of God, 5200 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37220. Honorary pall bearers are the Ministers of the TN District Assemblies, Wayne Jones, Bobby Dagg, Mike Lane, Shawn Hunt, David King, John Jackson, David Denham, Craig Barber, and Linda Jones (caregiver). In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Oak Hill Assembly.
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