Joyce Ashley
Lula Joyce Bishop Ashley, 92, of Hazlehurst, passed away January 23, 2013 at Copiah Living Center.
Visitation will be 9:30am-11am Friday at Bethel Baptist Church. Services will be 11am Friday at Bethel Baptist Church with burial at Bethel Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Home in Hazlehurst is handling arrangements.
Mrs. Ashley was born in Copiah County on July 21, 1920 to Albert G. and Susie Nolan Bishop. She graduated from Hazlehurst High School in 1939. In High School she was active in basketball and track. She was on the Girls Relay Track Team in 1939 that broke the state record and held it for 30 years. She married Archie Ashley, Sr. in 1940 and they were married for 65 years before his death in 2006.
Mrs. Ashley was a homemaker and enjoyed working in her garden, singing, sewing, and reading. She was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church until her health prevented it. She was a Sunday school teacher for 12-15 years old girls for many years. She was very active in choir and known for her beautiful singing voice and sang at many revivals, weddings and funerals.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents; brothers, William (Zeke) Bishop, Denon Bishop, Nolan Bishop; sisters, Beatrice Singletary and Betty Lloyd; great grandchild, Paige Jones; and a son.
She is survived by her children, Kenneth Glen Ashley (Susie), Brenda Ashley Nixon (Benny), and Archie Ashley, Jr. (Kitty); brother, Albert G. Bishop, Jr.; grandchildren, Kendra Ashley Hust, Christy Ashley McNab, Ken Ashley, Ashley Nixon Rogers, Chris Nixon, Nicki Ashley Smith, and Jarrett Ashley; great grandchildren, Jordan Jones, Emily Hust, Jacob Hust, Aidan Rogers, Alex Grace Rogers, and Kaylinn Smith.
