Robert Mark Ledbetter, a revered broadcasting executive and longtime resident of Tupelo, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the age of 83. Mark was born April 15, 1941, in Vina, Alabama, to Robert and Helen Pate Ledbetter. After graduating from high school, he attended Clark Memorial Junior College and Mississippi College. Mark later furthered his education by attending the Management Development Schools at Vanderbilt and Harvard Universities.
In 1960, Mark married his one true love, Nancy Glenn. Together, they shared 63 wonderful years of marriage.
Mark’s passion for journalism was ignited with his first job in radio at WAMY in Amory. His talents quickly propelled his career, leading him to WTVA, where he served as a news anchor and eventually retired as Vice President and General Manager. In February 1995, Mark was elected to the Board of Directors of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. In 1999, he began his service on the Broadcasting Board of Governors after being nominated by former President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the United States Senate. He worked alongside then Secretary of State Colin Powell and Senator Trent Lott, supervising U.S.-funded non-military international broadcasting entities, including the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. His term concluded in December 2003.
Mark was deeply involved in his community. He was a past Chairman of the Community Development Foundation in Tupelo, Co-Chairman and Vice President of AHEAD (Advocating Highways for Economic Advancement and Development), and past President of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors of the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra and formerly held the position of Board Chairman.
A dedicated member of First Baptist Church Tupelo, Mark served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for the Adult Men’s Class.
Although Mark was a successful businessman and world traveler, he never forgot his roots as a country boy. He loved being outdoors and spent a great deal of time at his farm growing sugar cane and making sorghum molasses, a skill he learned from his father-in-law. In his younger days, he and Nancy could be found out on the lake catching a few catfish. His most recent pastime included watching Westerns on TV.
Mark leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Nancy Glenn Ledbetter; three children, Helen Perrott (Mark) of Carthage, Tim Ledbetter (Dawn) of Old Union, and Brenda Kahn (Scott) of Waterbury, Connecticut; his siblings, Peggy Parham (Ronald) of Amory, Tom Ledbetter (Donna) of Lewes, Delaware, Karen Tiffin (Billy) of West Point, and Terry Ledbetter (Marla) of Tupelo; his brother-in-law, Mickey McDonald; daughter-in-law, Ellie Ledbetter; seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Clayton Ledbetter; sister, Celia Ledbetter McDonald; and stepmothers, Marcelle Ledbetter and Jean Ledbetter.
Visitation will be 5 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Pegues in Tupelo.
A celebration of Mark’s life will be 2 p.m. Thursday, June 6, 2024 at the Jefferson Street Chapel of Pegues with Rev. Matt Powell officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.
