Eloise Hood Ash

Mrs. Eloise Hood Ash passed away quietly on February 2, 2019 at age 99.  She led a long and productive life centered around her family and her church.  She was a faithful wife, devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  She was a  respected educator, a devout church woman and a loyal friend.  Her love of family and friends was steadfast and unconditional.

Mrs. Ash was born on August 27, 1919 in Nicholson, Georgia, to Andrew "Okee" Hood and Annie Douglas Hood.  She attended the Jackson County Public Schools and later North Georgia College.  She went back to school in her fifties and graduated from Brenau University.  While at North Georgia College she met her future husband and soul mate James Arthur Ash.  Together they raised three daughters, seven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and a couple of sons-in-law.

Mrs. Ash began her professional career in the 1940's as secretary to the legendary Wally Butts and football coaches at the University of Georgia.  She left that position to marry James and to help him build his career until it brought them to Gainesville in 1963.  She taught at First Presbyterian Kindergarten for many years and later elementary students at Jones Elementary School.  She loved her students and thoroughly enjoyed running into them later and hearing of their successes.

She was very active at First Baptist Church, where her husband served as Chairman of the Deacons.  She was an officer in the Winsome Sunday School Class and an energetic participant with the Vintagers.

Mrs. Ash's greatest contributions were to her family, and it and church were always the center of her life.  She was the epitomy of what a wife, parent and grandparent should be.  As a wife, she set the standard of loving support and self sacrifice.  As a parent and grandparent she was a living example of wholesome morality, nurturing all by example in virture, love, forgiveness and understanding.

Mrs. Ash is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law; Ann and Eddie Hartness, Jean McNeal, Cindy and Brian Terrell; grandchildren and spouses, Erin and Drew Medlyn, Russell and Lane Hartness, Brooks McNeal, Alison and Brett Jakaitis, Matthew and Megan Terrell, Zach and Susanna Terrell, and Nathan and Joy Terrell; great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Fisher and William Medlyn, Haley Grace and Lyla Kate Hartness;  Levi, Ethan and Clara Eloise Jakaitis; Eliot, Zoey, Margaret and Samantha Terrell.  She has one living sister, Janette Edwards of Rome, Ga. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

The family wants to thank the caregivers at Gardens of Gainesville and Homestead Hospice for the care and nurturing they gave Mrs. Ash during the last four years of her life.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday February 7, 2019 in the chapel of First Baptist Church on Green Street.  Rev. Bruce Fields will officiate.  The family will receive friends in the church parlor following the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ministry of Caring at First Baptist Church, 751 Green Street, Gainesville, Ga. 30501.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Ga. 30501 is in charge of arrangements.