Mamie Lee Ashley

Mrs. Mamie Lee Ashley, 77, of Youngstown, transitioned from this life to eternal peace on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Mrs. Mamie Lee Ashley was born October 28, 1946 into a very large family in Montgomery, AL.  Mamie was the daughter of Primitive Baptist Minister Joe Nathan Myricks and homemaker, Mrs. Mamie Lee Elsberry Myricks. Of the 16 children born to their union, 15 lived.  Mamie was the youngest girl.  Mamie was a barefoot country girl at heart as well as a high school cheerleader. She lived her early life in Montgomery, AL and enjoyed the remainder of her years in Youngstown, Oh.   

Mamie met and married Sam Lee Ashley when both were approximately 20 years old.  Together, Sam and Mamie raised 3 sons and a thriving host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Both retired from Packard Electric with 30 years of service.  After retirement, Mamie also worked many years as a much loved pre-school teacher's assistant in the MY-Cap/Head-start program. She was affectionately known to the children as “Ms. Mamie”.

Mamie Ashley was an incredible wife, mother and Matriarch to many.  She loved God, her family and her church.  She spread God's love and the word of Christ freely and willingly with everyone she met along life's path.  During separate seasons of her life, she worked tirelessly as a Deaconess at both Rising Star Baptist and Price Memorial AME Zion Churches. 

Mamie leaves behind her loving spouse of almost 60 years, Sam L. Ashley and his equally large extended family; sons, Orlando C. Ashley, Sam D. Ashley and Lamar E. (Tereah) Ashley; former daughter-in-law, Ashana Ashley (former husband, Sam D.); grandchildren, Sam D. “Buddy” Ashley Jr., Alanna Ashley, Aysia Ashley, Aaron Ashley, Avery Ashley, Aris Ashley; great-grandchildren, Laila Ashley and Alaya Ashley; siblings, Willie Mae Smith, Catherine Thornton, Ethel Powell Todd, Rose Price, Joe Nathan Jr., Stephen “Bill” (Donna) Myricks; living spouses of deceased siblings, Lisa Myricks (husband, John A. Myricks), Nancy Myricks (husband, Jesse Myricks), Sue Myricks (husband, Cashier Myricks); and a host of in-laws, nieces and nephews, extended biological and “adopted” family, friends and co-workers too numerous to list in this format.

Mamie is preceded in death by her parents, Joe Nathan and Mamie L. (Elsberry) Myricks; brother, Cashier Myricks; and siblings (with deceased spouses), Katie Myricks Slay (husband, Charles), Annie Ruth Myricks Howard (husband, P. Curtis), Joel Myricks (wife, Lillie), David Myricks (wife, Jean), Josephine Myricks.  Deceased spouses of living siblings, J.C. Smith, James Thornton, Claude Powell, Elder Amos Todd.

Mamie’s biological family literally spans the entire nation.  Major hubs include: Columbus, OH - Montgomery, AL - Los Angeles, CA - Chicago, IL. 

Visitation will be Tuesday, August 6, 2024 from 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon at Rising Star Baptist Church, 2943 Wardle Ave., Youngstown.  A Celebration of Life will follow at 12:00 p.m.  Pastor Kenneth Donaldson will officiate.

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