Ashley Gresham Frazier
April 5, 1973 - ???????
While I was reading the obituaries in Sunday’s paper (don’t ask), I was astonished at the vast difference in content. Some people had all of 1 paragraph. “Jane Doe, 85 passed away at Such and Such Hospital on Saturday. She was proceeded in death by her husband of 52 years, John doe and her parents Mary Smith Doe and Billy Doe all of Dalton. She is survived by her 3 children and 6 grand-children. A celebration of her life will be held graveside at That Cemetery on 123rd street at 11 am Monday morning. For word s of condolence send your email to www.email.com.” The next one was like 4 paragraphs. The man, we’ll call “Henry”, was the same age, and had virtually the same criteria noted. Wife was dead, 3 children and died in the Hospital in his hometown. However, it went into such detail as to describe his hobbies, his church membership, his jobs, what year he retired and the names of his children, grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren’s. It was very impressive. He was a purple heart, a volunteer for many civic organizations and apparently loved by many.
Well, this really got me thinking. What happened in the 85 years Jane Doe was alive that made her life so much more uneventful? Did she just have unappreciative or uneducated children that didn’t take the time or know to announce her accomplishments in life? Maybe, she didn’t want them announced. And why would you celebrate a life AT the graveyard? Is there going to be a keg, loud music, and party hats? Maybe that is where they will announce her life long memories. Who knows!!! I just thought that it was really sad. When my Dad died, I was only 17 and wasn’t really involved in the writing of his obituary, so I didn’t really remember what it said. So I went to the basement and dug it out. It wasn’t bad, but it defiantly didn’t do him justice. It did mention my name and my evil step monster’s name, but nothing about his LIFE was really disclosed. Of course, this was kind of disturbing to me, but you don’t get re-writes, so oh well.
Remember in the movie Risky Business when they were given the assignment to write their own obituary? Well, I decided to do the same thing. It’s kind of morbid and weird, but it really makes you THINK!! What about your life are you proud of, what do you still have to accomplish, and what/who actually made such an impact in your life that you feel the need to recognize them when announcing your death. So, I started to think and write, and erase, and think……It’s really eye opening. As, morbid and weird as it might be, I am challenging all of you to do the same thing. It can make you aware of things that are yet to be accomplished and make you more motivated to live life at its fullest!! When you finish, highlight what you still need to do. It’s astounding how much yellow is left on mine.
Ashley Gresham Frazier
April 5th 1973 – HOPEFULLY A LONG TIME FROM NOW.
Ashley Gresham Frazier, CMA, formerly of Dalton GA, passed away in her sleep on Monday evening, at the age of 90 at her beachfront home in Gulf Shores, Alabama. She is preceded in death by her Father, David Gresham Frazier, her Mother Glenda Carol Newberry Haley Frazier Buford Hill and loving Stepfather Perry Lee Hill. She is survived by her life partner Roger Jack Bagley, Jr. whom she was scheduled to marry in 10 more years also of the residence. She is also survived by her Daughter and Son-In-Law, Bryleigh Beau Frazier-Biden and Hunter Biden of Washington D.C., Son and Daughter-In-Law Dr. Jaxon David Frazier-Bagley and Natalie Biden Bagley of Gulf Shores, AL., Seem like Daughters and Son in law, Whitney Hope Bagley Alderman and William Alderman of Dalton, Ga., and Command Chief Master Sergeant Halle B. Bagley of the US Air Force. Grandson’s Joseph Robinette Biden V, David Gresham Frazier Biden, Beau Lee Bagley, and Paul Roger Alderman. Granddaughters, Ashley Gresham Bagley and Alicia Carol Alderman. One Brother Andrew Dean Buford and nephew Ryan Dean Buford of Montgomery AL.
Ashley was a member of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Gulf Shores and a long time member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Dalton Ga. Born in Dalton, Ashley completed her undergraduate degree at Ga. Southern University in Statesboro, GA. She was employed by Tandus, Inc. for 38 years where she served as Chief Financial Officer upon forced retirement in 2043. She earned and executive MBA from Kennesaw State University and numerous IMA awards for her dedication to the management accounting community. She was the recipient of the Junior Achievement Legacy award for her 40 years of dedication to the success of the youth of the community, as well as The Catherine Variety Sheridan Award for her significant contributions to organizations involving children. In 2044, at the age of 71, she and life partner Roger Bagley traveled the United States to educate children in blue collar communities about the importance of an education and how to save money for their future endeavors. In 2045 Ashley traveled to Bihar, India to educate and empower young women through the Freedom from Hunger program, where she was able to educate over 300 women in the areas of Health, Social and Economical Empowerment. In 2046, she moved from Dalton to Gulf Shores Alabama to live out the remainder of her days in the quiet tranquility of the sand beneath her toes and crashing waves of the Gulf. A memorial service will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Thursday morning at 11 am with (Whomever is Rector at that time) officiating. Her ashes will then be taken to the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center where a celebration will be held commemorating all the accomplishments of her life. All are invited to attend. Her ashes will then be flown and scattered over Bryant-Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. In lieu of flowers the family wishes to have donations made to the Freedom from Hunger program or St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
