Minnie Louise Edwards Ash

Minnie Louise Edwards Ash, 91, of Greensboro, GA, died Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at Boswell Parker Nursing Center. Born on May 9, 1915 in Penfield, GA, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Randolph Edwards Sr. and Josephine Boswell Edwards. She went to school in Penfield before attending Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, and North Georgia College. She received a degree in teaching from St. Mary''s College in Kansas.

In her lifetime Minnie had many roles - army wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, teacher, deputy police officer, sales clerk and bookkeeper. Minnie went from Penfield to Greensboro to a thirty-four year tour of the world with her army husband, Brig. General Hughes L. Ash Sr. There is a famous quote that states, "Behind every successful man, there is a woman." How true that statement was for Minnie. She encouraged her husband all the way to the rank of Brig. General. She was the queen of entertaining and wined and dined many dignitaries in her career including the Shah of Iran and President and Mrs. John Kennedy. She made a loving home for her family wherever they "hung their hat." She was the stabilizing force in all of their lives. She loved to bake for others and share her recipes that she collected around the world. She was a talented needlepointer and taught the love of this hobby to many people. Her flowers were always a sight to behold. Even at their cabin in the north Georgia mountains, the neighbors were eager to see her summer flowers come alive. Her southern charm was always noted in all of their travels around the world. After returning to Greensboro she worked as a receptionist at McCommons Funeral Home. Mrs. Ash was a member of the Greensboro Garden Club, Meadowcrest Club, a board member on the Greensboro Housing Authority, and taught AARP classes. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Greensboro where she attended the Agape Sunday School class.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Brig. General Hughes Lanier Ash Sr. in 1985 and a daughter, Miriam A. Smith in 1986. She is survived by a daughter, Tommi Ward and husband James H. "Rick" of Greensboro, GA; a son, Hughes L. "Sonny" Ash Jr. and wife Jo of Lillington, NC; a sister, Dorothy Edwards Moore of Dunwoody, GA, a brother, Thomas Randolph Edwards Jr of Rochester, NY; grandchildren, Col. Eric Smith and wife Leslie of Ft. Rucker, AL, Hughes L. Ash III and wife Jennifer of Louisville, KY, Michael A. Smith of Greensboro, GA, Tony Smith and wife Lori of Greensboro, GA, Ashlie Miller and husband Brock of Greensboro, GA and Joey Ward and wife Miranda of Athens, GA; thirteen great grandchildren, Jessica Smith, Taylor Smith, Colton Smith, Hughes L. Ash IV, Harper Louise Ash, Ansley Ash, James Smith, Alex Smith, Memphis Smith, Ivy Smith, Zach Smith, Jack Miller and Thomas Miller; and a number of other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 3:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Greensboro with Rev. Michael Hardy, Rev. Jimmy Long and Rev. Fred Whitley officiating. Interment will follow in the Penfield Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Bobby Boswell, Carey Williams Jr. Charles Copelan, Bobby Duvall, David Kopp, Francis Rizner, Tommy Allums and Steve Power. Grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday night at the funeral home. The family requests that any memorial may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 203 S. Main Street, Greensboro, GA 30642. McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of arrangements. Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.

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