Mrs. E. J. Ashford

In the death of Mrs. Evelyn J. Ashford, which occurred Saturday at noon, May 26, 1923, at her home on Candler street, Gainesville loses one of her finest, purest and most womanly characters, whom to know was to respect as one respects his own mother, and to love as one loves virtue and the finer things of life.

Mrs. Ashford was 88 years of age at the time an angel touched her eyes and bade her sleep and carried her spirit to a realm of rest, peace and happiness, where she will be, and feel, at home, among the redeemed of earth, for she was an heir of heaven.

Mrs. Ashford was a woman of the old school, who loved her home, her children and all of God's creatures around about her. She was of one of the older families of Gainesville, whose quiet life was as the delicate fragrance of some rare flower, felt and appreciated by all who came in contact with it.

She was a member of the Episcopal church and delighted to do service in her Master's vineyard, and she was spared to reach a golden age, and to live among her children and grandchildren as a savory influence in the shaping of their lives, and this influence will ever encircle and envelop them as the sunshine envelops and sustains the plant life of nature.

The funeral services were at the home, conducted by Rev. H. S. Coby after which the burial took place at Alta Vista cemetery.
Mrs. Ashford is survived by one son, W. K. Ashford, and four daughters, Mrs. C. S. Merck, Mrs. H. A. Daniels and Miss Evelyn Ashford of this city, and Mrs. J. W. Markham of Jacksonville, Fla.

Transcribed from a clipping pasted in a Merck/Wing scrapbook; no dates visible. Information in parenthesis has been inserted for clarification. Ellipses (...) indicate that not all of the article has been transcribed. Some information omitted for clarify and brevity.