Nina Evelyn Ashford

Nina Evelyn Ashford 12/27/29-9/4/14 Nina Evelyn Ashford was born a true survivor. She was a premature baby girl weighing in at three pounds to proud parents, Floy and Bradley Bryant. A midwife delivered Nina at her home in Russellville, Arkansas on December 27, 1929. She was so tiny that she slept in a shoebox; she was an only child. Defying all odds she went on to live a normal childhood and moved from Arkansas to Ivanhoe, California with her parents. When she was thirteen years old, she attended Elbow Creek School during her eighth grade year. Nina studied at Union High School in Visalia, California. It was in her eleventh grade year that she met and fell head over heels with the love of her life. His name was Willie Ashford, and they met at the local Roller Rink. Willie was the man who would become her devoted husband of sixty-six years. On May 28, 1948 Nina and Willie made it official. They tied the knot in an intimate after-church wedding with family in attendance alongside their life-long best friends, Dolores (Dode) England, and Garland England, who served as the Matron of Honor and Best Man. Not much time went by before the newly married couple started adding to their family. They were blessed with four children. Sadly though, their picturesque life did not last long. Nina discovered the first of what would be many bouts of cancer in her early thirties. She fought hard to overcome her adversities with as much dignity as a young mother could out of love for her family. In 2001 after many years cancer-free, she underwent a quadruple bypass. Once again, she beat the odds. Nina enjoyed passing the time visiting with the younger generations of her family, playing Yahtzee, and she was an avid reader. She amassed an impressive collection of novels ranging from Murder Mysteries, to Science Fiction, to Romance. Nina was also a long-time member of The Church of Christ, and she was a devout Christian. Nina is preceded by her oldest daughter, Sandra Mulanax. Her beloved husband, Willie Ashford of Visalia, California survives her. Nina is also survived by her son, Terry Ashford of Visalia, California, as well as her daughters, Janie Davis of Paradise Valley, Arizona, and Lisa Berkeley of Yucaipa, California. In addition to her children she is survived by seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Nina was loved beyond measure by all who knew her and she will be greatly missed. A memorial service to honor her life will be held at 3838 S. Court Street at the Visalia Community Church of Christ on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 10:30 AM.

Nina Evelyn Ashford

December 27, 1929 - September 4, 2014