Growing up in the Birdtown community of Cherokee, North Carolina, Virgil Ledford spent
a lot of time with his great-grandfather who “could carve anything he wanted.” In high school, he studied with the late renowned Cherokee carver Amanda Crowe and went on to be a master carver of animals and legendary Cherokee figures.

Ledford is a member of the The Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, a Cherokee-owned-and-operated arts and crafts co-operative founded in 1946.
He has been recognized with an award for his years of outstanding service.