Elsie Lavenier Brewer Ashford, age 89, a former long-time resident of Water Valley, MS died on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 in Greenville, MS. She was born on June 25, 1921 in Crockett, MS to the late Ernest Brewer and Pearl Craig Brewer. She was a graduate of the University of Mississippi and Northwest Community College. After 40 years of service in the teaching profession, Mrs. Ashford retired from the Water Valley School System. She was an avid bridge player and loved riding motorcycles with her son in her later years. Elsie was a faithful member of the Water Valley Church of Christ, the Order of the Eastern Star, a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and MAE, and was chosen Star Teacher twice during her career.
The visitation will be held on Friday, October 1, 2010 from 5 PM until 7 PM at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley, MS. The funeral service will be held at the Water Valley Church of Christ at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010 with officiating ministers David Floyd and Fred Eakes. Interment will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley, MS with Gordon “Lou” Lewis Andrews II, Tomie R. “Robbie” Ashford, II, Hunter Cheyenne Ashford, Clay Ashford, Mark Williams Hayden, Martin Elbert Young, George Breisch Stallings and Steve Arnold Mears serving as pallbearers.
Mrs. Ashford is survived by one daughter, Cindy (Gordon) Andrews, of Greenville, MS; one son, Tommy (Gayle) Ashford; one sister, Fay Hayden of Batesville, MS; four grandchildren, Tomie Robert Ashford, II, Gordon Louis “Lou” Andrews, II, Angilique Gayle Andrews Stallings and Elizabeth Ann Andrews Mears, and five great-grandchildren, Hunter Ashford, John Paul Ashford, Ryen Ashford, Gage Stallings and Laura Beth Mears.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Ashford, in 2003; two sisters, Willa May Thomas and Madeline Sealy; and one brother, Gene Leonard.