Rudolph and Juanita [Benson] Bridges had reason to celebrate in the fall of 1943, when a new addition to their family arrived in the form of a beautiful, baby girl on the 26th day of August. They named her Juanell Carolyn.


Juanell's educational journey began at Dunbar Elementary, continued at Sadler Jr. High and then on to Historic Manual Training High School, graduating with the proud Class of 1961. While at Manual, she was a member of the Manual Marching Band. She continued with her education at Bacone College and Northeastern State, where she earned her degree in Nursing. She finished at Northeastern in 1961 as a L.P.N.


She worked as a L.P.N. at the V.A. Regional Medical Center for 16 years, Muskogee Regional Medical Center for 10 years and at Monarch for 5 years. She also worked for Pleasant Valley Nursing Facility for 7 years before her retirement.


Juanell was married to Fred Ledbetter and together they produced 3 children. This union was later dissolved but they remained friends. She was a member of the 18th & Denison Church of Christ and her presence will be missed by her family, friends and church members.


In her 64th season, Juanell Carolyn Culton transitioned from Earth to Glory on Thursday morning, March 6, 2008 from Muskogee. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Rudolph and Gordon, and a sister, Elaine.


She leaves to lament her passing; her children, Jerome Ledbetter, Steve Ledbetter, and Lanell Ledbetter-Meeks; her grandchildren; great-grandchildren; her siblings, Maxine McCormick, Shelia Ashley, Brenda Motley, Maurice Bridges and Ellis Ceasar; along with other relatives and friends.


The Final Hour with Juanell will be on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 1:00 P.M. in the 18th & Denison Church of Christ. Brother Eric Rogers, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Booker T. Washington Cemetery.

You may visit Juanell, as she slumbers at the Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc., on Friday from 12 Noon to 6 PM.