Mr. Sylvester Ashford

Mr. Sylvester Ashford, 96, of Glennville, Georgia passed away at home surrounded by family under the care of Spanish Oaks Hospice on June 12, 2019. Born to the late Douglas Hall and Dollie Lane Ashford, on April 26, 1923, Sylvester Ashford has been a native of Glennville his entire life and has left a tremendous impact on the city and the people in it. While living most of his childhood with his grandmother, Emma Ashford, he attended public schools within the community. He later attended Georgia Baptist College in Macon where he received his high school diploma and attained higher pursuits, including a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Albany State College in Albany, Georgia, his Master's degree from New York University, New York in School Administration, and even conducted studies at the University of Georgia and Savannah State College. Mr. Ashford launched a career in the military, serving in World War II as a clerk and mailman. He also attained the rank of corporal. He continued to serve by flourishing in the field of education serving as a teacher, coach, and principal beginning in 1949 at Glennville Colored School. He became the first principal of Seckinger Elementary, now known as Glennville Elementary School, beginning in 1955 where he retired in 1990 after 35 years of service there with the honor of "Principal Emeritus." Along with this honor, Mr. Ashford has received several other accolades while serving as a true leader in the Glennville Community. He has served as a City Councilman, Vice Chairman of the Tattnall County Board of Education, and even assisted with the building of Smith State Prison while serving on the Industrial Development Authority for the City of Glennville. Furthermore, he was a Notary Public, member of the Selective Service, and has also fulfilled past offices such as the President of the Tattnall County Teachers Association, the First District Principals Association, and even the Albany State College National Alumni Association. Among these, additionally he holds lifetime memberships with the following organizations: National Education Association, Albany State College Alumni Association, the Retired Teachers Association of Georgia, the Fraternal Order of Free and Accepted Prince Hall Masons of Georgia, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Additionally, Mr. Ashford is included in the Albany State College Alumni Hall of Fame, honored with the John E. Clark Humanitarian Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce, and he even has a street named after him: Sylvester Ashford Drive, Glennville. Let us not forget the biggest aspect of Mr. Ashford's life is his devotion to Christ, where he was an overly active member of the First African Missionary Baptist Church of Glennville, and for many years he served as Chairman of the Deacon's Ministry and Superintendent of Sunday School. The First A.B. Fellowship Hall was also dedicated in 2012 to Mr. Ashford and his wife. Outside of First A. B., he was a 33˚ Mason and Shriner, and was also a member of the Star of Glennville #162 and was also actively involved with the Tattnall Missionary Baptist Association, serving as Treasurer and past President of the Reidsville District. Mr. Ashford has left a legacy on this place that we should all strive to attain. He was a God-fearing and humble man who dearly loved his family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Douglas Hall and Dollie Lane Ashford, and his siblings, James Ashford and Verdie Bell Lane Payton. He leaves behind his wife of 68 years, Juanita Sapp-Ashford, two children, Andrea Ashford-Levant (Donnie) of Reidsville, Georgia, James Lamont Ashford (Patricia) of Eastman Georgia, four grandchildren, Donovan Levant (Janeth) of Glennville, Georgia, Destiny Levant of Reidsville, Georgia, Desiree Ashford-Walthour of Glennville, Georgia, Xavier Kayton Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia, godson, Ryan Tomblin of Claxton, Georgia, and a host of other step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, godchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, former coworkers, students, and friends. Visitation services will be held on Friday, June 21st from 5-8 pm at First African Missionary Baptist Church 600 Church Drive, Glennville. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 22nd at 12, noon, at First African Missionary Baptist Church, Glennville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sylvester Ashford Scholarship Fund at the Glennville Bank.