HOLLY GROVE -- Lila Mae Ash-Barnes, 100, of Holly Grove, died Friday, August 15, 2008, at Stuttgart Regional Medical Center.
She was born Aug. 10, 1908, in Clarendon to Elliot and Nancy Hamilton. She was the widow of Olish Barnes.
Mrs. Barnes was a member of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Holly Grove for over 60 years, where she served on the Usher Board and as a member of the Kitchen Committee. She also served as an active memer of the Order of the Eastern Star until her health failed.
She worked for many years as a cook with the Holly Grove School District. In earlier years, she also worked as a mid-wife, having delivered over 150 babies born within the city of Holly Grove. She spent her life caring for others. She raised her own children as well as others in the community. She loved sewing, quilting and most of all cooking.
Her parents; husband; a son, Gene Edward Ash; a daughter, Sue Bingham; a brother, Alvin Hamilton; two sisters, Cornelius Taylor and Ruelle Hamilton, preceded her in death.
Survivors are three sons, John E. Williams and wife Lorene, and Ivory L. Williams and wife Reesie, all of Kansas City, Mo., and Troy L. Ash and wife Gladys of Fort Wayne, Ind.; two daughters, Lyndell Upsahw and husband Walter of Holly Grove, and Mary Christine Franks of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 25 grandchildren, a host of great-granchildren and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 23 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church on Mimosa Street in Holly Grove with the Rev. Fred Abram Jr. officiating. Interment will take place at Shady Grove Cemetery by Branscumb Johnson and Gilchrest Funeral Home of Brinkley.
Pallbearers will be Isaiah Rich, DeNeal Bones, Ricky Ernest and other friends of the community.
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note: Lila Mae was well known as one of the best cooks around Holly Grove and beyond. Her rolls were melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Her late husband was Olish "Ollie" Barnes, who worked at my grandfather's service station, King Motor Co., for many, many years. -- Jane Dearing Dennis
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