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We the people of St. Jude Catholic Community strive to become a people of faith. Out of fidelity to God’s call in our Baptism, we accept with humility our role as disciples of Jesus Christ by following His commandments. We pray as individuals and together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and participate in the sacraments, which inspire us to teach, build community and serve one another.
Obituary for Very Rev. John Selwin Ledford, V.F.

Very Rev. John Selwin Ledford, V.F.
Very Rev. John Selwin Ledford, V.F., 77, died Jan. 10, 2025, in Glen Dale, W.Va.
He was born August 4, 1947, in Lewisburg, Tenn., the son of the late Katherine T. (Orr) and Selwin Ledford.
He is a 1969 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he received a Bachelor of Science in agriculture; and a 1977 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he received a Bachelor of Science in accounting.
He attended Mount St. Mary’s College and Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., graduating in 1975, and was ordained to the priesthood on April 19, 1975, by Most Rev. Joseph H. Hodges at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, W.Va.
Fr. Ledford would have celebrated his 50th anniversary of priesthood this spring and has served many parishes in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. At St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Saint Albans, he served as a deacon from 1974 to 1975. After his ordination to the priesthood, he was associate pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Weirton from 1975 to 1977, chaplain of WV Northern Community College from 1975-1976, and associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Huntington from 1977 to 1981. He served as Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Council #931 (Huntington) from 1977-1981.
Fr. Ledford then became pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Nitro in 1981 to 1994, while also serving as pastor of Christ the King in Dunbar from 1984-1994. He then served as pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Follansbee from 1994 to 1996, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Berkeley Springs from 1996 to 2002, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Stonewood from 2002 to 2010. While in Stonewood, he also served as designated pastor of Notre Dame High School in Clarksburg from 2006 to 2008. He then served as pastor of St. James the Greater Parish in Charles Town from 2010 to 2018, and chaplain to the Knights of Columbus Council # 2931 in 2011. Fr. Ledford was appointed to the Presbyteral Council for the diocese that same year serving until 2013. He was appointed vicar forane of the Martinsburg Vicariate and as pilgrimage director for the diocese in 2012. The following year, he served as temporary administrator of St. Leo Parish in Inwood. In 2014, he was elected to the Board of Directors for the Priests’ Health and Retirement Association.
In June 2018, Fr. Ledford was appointed pastor of St. Jude Parish in Glen Dale in 2018 and vicar forane of the Wheeling Vicariate in 2020, serving in both roles until his passing.
Fr. Ledford served as a pro-synodal judge of the Tribunal of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston from 1981 to present, and deanery moderator of the Charleston Area Diocesan Council of Catholic Women from 1981 to 1989. He was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and was the state chaplain of West Virginia Knights of Columbus from 1983 to 1985.
He was as an associate member of the Fraternal Order of Police, a member of the National Railway Historical Society, and the National Association of Railroad Passengers. He was a member of the Lions Club in Moundsville at the time of his passing, and had been a member of the Lions Clubs across West Virginia since 1977.
Fr. Ledford was an active member of inter-faith clergy associations in each community and county assigned, most recently the Harrison County Clergy Association from 2002-2010, South Jefferson Clergy Association from 2010-2018, and the Moundsville Area Clergy Association from 2018 to present.
Accolades he was certainly proud of included serving as chaplain and lieutenant for the Weirton Police Reserve, and chaplain and reserve deputy sheriff of the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department. He was fondly referred to as the “Fr. John the Sheriff” by his parishioners and communities.
Prior to becoming a priest, Fr. Ledford worked as a deputy for several counties in Tennessee in the late 1960s while attending the University of Tennessee. As a priest his reserve police and sheriff department duties were unpaid.
He was preceded in death by his parents Selwin and Katherine Ledford, and brother Lavoy Ledford. He is survived by his sister-in-law Jamie Clayton Ledford; nieces Karin Graser and Molly Ledford; and several great nieces and nephews.
Reception of the Body will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16, at St. Jude Church in Glen Dale, with Fr. Doney Chacko, R.C.J., presiding. Visitation will be held from 3-8 p.m., at the church. A Vigil will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Jude with Very Rev. Donald X. Higgs, Associate V.E., V.F., presiding, Very Rev. John Rice, V.G., V.F., as the homilist.
On Friday, Jan. 17, visitation will be held at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, from 9-11:45 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at noon with Bishop Mark Brennan as celebrant.
Interment will be in Tennessee where Fr. Ledford will be buried with his family.
Funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston webpage, www.dwc.org, and on the diocesan Facebook page.
Arrangements by Altmeyer Funeral Home, 1400 Eoff Street, Wheeling, WV (https://www.altmeyerfuneralhomes.com).
In lieu of flowers, Fr. Ledford requested memorial contributions be made to the Seminarian Education Fund for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.
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Saturday: 4:30pm
Sunday: 9:00am
Holy Days: As announced in the Bulletin
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Saturday: 3:30pm or by appointment