Gwenda LedBetter was more than a storyteller—she was a living story herself, layered with wonder, wit, and grace. Known affectionately as Asheville’s “Story Lady,” she carried generations of tales in her voice and wove them gently into the hearts of listeners. Whether in a library corner or on a national stage, she had the rare gift of leaving people “feeling hopeful, and happy,” as storyteller Chuck Fink recalled. “She told like none other.” Her storytelling wasn’t performance—it was communion. It was an invitation to remember what it means to be human.
Her friendship was a quiet, radiant force. She cast “a beautiful light wherever she smiled,” Chuck Fink said. She sang in the Temple choir even though she wasn’t Jewish. She co-created community across differences. Kiran Singh Sirah called her “a very special woman, kind and big-hearted with a powerful soul.” He shared memories of sandwiches, poetry readings, and deep philosophical conversations—one of which even included Gwenda pondering what Roosevelt might say if he joined their front-porch chat. “Her excitement for learning was truly infectious.”
Even near her 95th birthday, Gwenda was deeply engaged. Connie Regan-Blake shared that when she visited in February 2025, Gwenda immediately asked her to tell a story from a recent festival—still hungry for connection, still living with vibrant purpose. “She is so engaged with life,” Connie said, “and missing interaction with other storytellers and friends.” Gwenda longed to stay in touch with the storytelling world, even inviting cards and letters from anyone who had a moment or a story to share.
Her red rocker became legend—immortalized in her TV segment Tales from the Red Rocker on WLOS-TV and echoed in her live performances. Over a 50-year career, she inspired and mentored countless others. Terry Rollins credited her with helping shape the North Carolina storytelling scene, saying, “She led that workshop which focused on stepping outside our perceived boundaries and having fun.” She was a founding member of the North Carolina Storytelling Guild and sat in the very first circle that gave it life. Her generosity, creativity, and wisdom helped guide the Guild’s vision and spirit.
Gwenda wrote daily poems, often sharing them with friends by email. She marveled at geese from her window and believed there was always something more to learn. Tim Lowry once said she inspired him with the simple phrase: “Surely there is something to find out about.” He turned it into a poem about curiosity, which captured her essence more than any biography could. “Some people spend their time…on other things…but they never say, I must learn.”
Her stories, as Madeleine L’Engle once said, “touch the core of my strongest feelings.” And an unnamed audience member perhaps said it best: “Your stories make me proud to be human.” In honoring her life, we are reminded not only of the power of story—but of the power of listening, of loving, and of living curiously.
In her lifetime, Gwenda was awarded the ORACLE Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Storytelling Network in 2006 and again celebrated by the North Carolina Storytelling Guild with their own Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Her name became synonymous with excellence in storytelling, but she wore these honors with humility, always more excited about your story than her own spotlight.
Gwenda LedBetter now joins the ancestors, but her voice echoes still—whenever we pause to tell a story with heart, or simply look out a window and wonder.
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You can see more details on Gwenda LedBetter with the Story Artists Memorial.
The following video features Gwenda LedBetter (click on picture or link):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2ax19o7K8E
Do you know a Story Artist who has passed on and want others to remember them? Memories? Pictures? You can submit names and memories of Story Artists who have passed on through our online form.
I appreciate Gwenda LedBetter, Asheville’s beloved Story Lady, whose stories made us proud to be human. She shared wonder from her red rocker, lighting up libraries, festivals, and front porches with grace and curiosity. I imagine her now among the ancestors, still spinning tales and sipping tea.
Gwenda LedBetter still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.