William Seaborn Ashley, Sr.

William Seaborn “Billy” Ashley, Sr. died Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro, GA.  He was 90.  A lifelong resident of Greene County he was born on June 17, 1924 in Greensboro the son of the late Seaborn Ashley and Dana Smith Ashley.  He graduated from Greensboro High School and married Mary Jean Holmes  on September 8, 1946.  They were married 62 years at the time of her death in 2009.  During World War II he served in the United States Air Corp.  During his life he was in the mercantile business, cattle and forestry business and also a real estate developer.  He served as vice chairman of the Greene County Commissioners from 1972 until 1980.  Dedicated to serving Greene County, he was a member of the Jaycees Club, Lions Club, American Legion, Chairman of Greene County Development Authority for 10 years and served on the Airport Authority for 12 years.  Mr. Ashley was a member of Greensboro United Methodist Church, where he served on the Administrative Council and numerous other committees.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Jean Holmes Ashley; son, W. Seaborn Ashley, Jr.; and sister Caroline Ashley. Mr. Ashley is survived by his son, Eric Holmes Ashley and wife Joanna of Athens, GA; grandchildren, Greg Ashley and his sons, William Seaborn Ashley III and Benjamin Andrews Ashley of Watkinsville, GA, Joy Ashley Sharp and husband Kevin and their daughter, Mary Jean Georgia Sharp of Charlotte, NC, Lisa Ashley Flynn and husband Mike of Atlanta, GA, Erica Ashley of Dallas, TX, and Maria, Jack and Julia Johnston of Athens, GA; other relatives and many, many friends.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, August 8, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church North Campus, 202 W. Broad Street, Greensboro, GA 30642 with Rev. Richard Chewning and Rev. Mike Morgan  officiating. Interment will follow in the Greensboro City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Dick Schmidt, Jamie Reynolds, Lewis Brown, Charley Whittemore, Johnny Frantz, Ken Cawthon, Woody Hanson, Kenny Hyatt and Rabun Neal. Honorary pallbearers are Mutt Rhodes, Harold Wilson, James Taylor, Horace Harwell, Frances Byce and John Smith. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday night at McCommons Funeral Home. The family requests that any memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 216, 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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