Edna Mae (Bailey) Ashley

(Due to Covid-19 concerns, all who attend funeral services are REQUIRED to wear mask and practice social distancing) 

Ms. Edna Mae Ashley, a native of Asheville, went home to be with our LORD on June 28, 2020. She was a phenomenal lady who had two daughters and four sons of which a daughter and two sons are deceased.

She attended Asheville Public Schools, Stephens-Lee High School, and received her GED from Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College. She worked as an Insurance Agent for many years for the North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. She retired from Biltmore Sayles Bleachery Company and then received her Certified Nursing Assistant certification. She joyfully and pridefully worked in the healthcare profession for several years. Edna did not stop there. She loved working with children and served as a Foster Grandparent with Land of Sky Foster Grandparent Program and as a tutor for The One Youth at a Time, Inc. Program.

Edna was a member of Hill Street Baptist Church and served in many different ministries including singing on the sanctuary and gospel choir, family life counsel, taught children’s Sunday school, attended the Will Roland Sunday School, worked on the new membership community, finance community, and others.  

She was very fashionable and stayed busy. She loved life to its fullest and attended a weekly Senior CARE PROGRAM held at the Nazareth First Baptist Church and the Asheville Senior Citizen Corporation. She was the president of Amica, friends of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She was committed to service and humankind. Her daughter Rev. Williams describes her as not only her mother but also her best friend who’s values include a good spiritual relationship with God,  a good loving family life in the home and a good relationship with good fellow Christians in the church and community.

This lady with whom we are honoring this morning is Edna M. Ashely. She was preceded in death by sons Richard gash and Ernest Charles Gash, and her oldest daughter Antionette Barksdale. She was the last living sibling.

Left to cherish her memories includes her daughter Rev. Robbie J. Williams, sons Rev. James Robert Gash (Sandra) and Phillip Eugene Ashley, a host of  grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, cousins, other family and friends.

Funeral services for "Ms. Ed" will be held on Friday July 3rd at Hill Street Baptist Church located on 135 Hill Street, at 11am. Burial will immediately follow the service at Lewis Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the funeral. Viewing will be held on Thursday July 2nd at Avery's Memorial Chapel from 12pm till 7Pm. The funeral service will be streamed live on the Avery's Memorial Chapel Facebook page.

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