Mrs. Frankie Dean Behne Ledbetter, of Goodlettsville, TN, passed away on Thursday morning, May 29, 2025, after a short illness in Dickson, Tennessee.
Mrs. Ledbetter was born in Nashville, Tennessee to Oscar Theodore Behne, Jr. and Myra Lida Barnes Behne. She was the oldest of three children and was the epitome of a loving and protective big sister. She and her sister and brother told numerous tales of childhood adventures, many of which ended with Frankie rescuing one or the other of them, putting out literal fires at least twice.
As a student at East Nashville High School, she played on the school tennis team, leading them to many victories. She loved being in the marching band, starting out playing the flute until switching to being a baton twirling majorette. The band was also where she met her future husband, trumpet player Billy Ledbetter.
After graduating high school in 1953, she attended Peabody College in Nashville. In her twenties Frankie began a career at the Social Security Administration, working there for forty-one years. She was known as a mentor and a determined and conscientious worker. Frankie was kindhearted and worked tirelessly, going through every case like she was helping her own mother. She always did everything she could to ensure everyone received the benefits they were due.
Frankie and her husband, Billy, dated and circled each other before eventually marrying in the early seventies. They shared many interests, most notably their love of music. They listened to performers in small clubs, saw The Grand Ole Opry, and went to sold-out shows at the Municipal Auditorium. When they were out one night she received an invitation to meet Elvis Presley. Billy wasn’t fond of that idea, so she turned the offer down. Billy loved her so much, that some years later, he took her to see Elvis Presley’s 1973 tour when he played a Nashville date. In addition to the two of them, she also took her sister, Theda and niece, Carol Dean, who will never forget what a special night that was.
Frankie valued her many friends. She had church friends, work friends, and even kept in close contact with several friends from high school. She never missed an East High class reunion.
Frankie was a woman of great faith. She was a devout Christian, attending Goodlettsville First Baptist Church for many years. Her church family was important to her, and she often spoke about her Sunday morning ladies group, and how much they meant to her.
A natural leader, Frankie was born to be the family matriarch. There was nothing more important to her than her family, and she loved them fiercely and unconditionally. They all knew they could turn to Frankie for anything, and she would be there. She was the rock, the solid foundation that kept the family going. She took them to the Y, she taught them how to paint their nails, she stayed with them when they were sick, talked them through each crisis, and even rushed to their side when their home was broken into.
For her nieces and nephews she was more than an aunt. When her younger sister and then her brother died way too young, she stepped up as she always had and became a second parent to them. Tommy, Carol, Lee and J. J. knew they hung the moon for her, and she hung theirs right back. To her great-nieces Elise and Sarah, and her great-nephew, Brandon, she was more grandparent than great aunt. She was loved so very much.
Frankie was preceded in death by her beloved parents, husband, William “Billy” Ledbetter, sister, Theda Mae Behne Wilson, brother, James Jordan (Carol) Behne, and nephew, Richard Thomas “Tommy” Wilson.
She is survived by nieces, Carol Dean Wilson (A.T.) Campbell, and Lida Leone Behne (Doug) Warden, nephew, James Jordan Behne, Jr., great-nieces, Elise Galbreath and Sarah Galbreath (Karl) Gilbert, and great-nephew, Brandon Galbreath.
Family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday, June 4th from 9-10am, at Mt. Olivet Funeral Home in Nashville. Funeral services will be held afterward at 10am. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn
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