Lorene Tyse Ashley

Obituary For Lorene Tyse Ashley

Lorene Tyse Ashley was born to Joseph Tyse Jr. and Artealia Watley Tyse on June 2, 1940. She was the youngest of three girls. She was born in Montgomery County, Montgomery, AL where she lived and worked most of her life.

She received her formal education in the Montgomery Public School System; she attended Loveless Elementary and G.W. Carver High School where she graduated with honors in 1957, and was crowned Miss Carver High of that year. In 1961 she earned a BS Degree in English and Library Science at Alabama State College, and in 1977 she earned a Masters Degree in Library Education Media also at Alabama State University. She studied additionally at Atlanta University.

Lorene completed 35 years as an educator; she was very proud of her career as an English instructor and Library Media Specialist. She began her teaching career in Dermott, Arkansas at Chicot County High School in 1961. Feeling the need to be closer to home, she completed one year in Arkansas and came to Lanier High School in Lanett, AL where she was Senior Class Sponsor and English instructor and later became the librarian. She also served as librarian at J.W. Darden High School in Opelika, AL.

After taking time off to marry and start a family, she began working in the Montgomery Public School System in 1969. She taught 9th grade English at Goodwyn Jr. High, 10th and 11th grade English at Sidney Lanier High, 10th and 11th grade English at G.W. Carver High School; she was very excited to teach at her alma mater and to actually work alongside some of her former instructors. She retired from the Montgomery Public School system in 1994; she was the librarian at Bellingrath Jr. High.

In 1998 she taught at the newly opened Montgomery Job Corp Center for four years. Initially she was a GED instructor; The first student to receive his GED from the Montgomery Job Corp Center was one of her students. She later became the Diversity and Wellness instructor. She often stated that teaching the students at the Center was one of the most rewarding experiences of her career.

She was raised in the United Methodist Church. Previously, she was a member of Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Montgomery. She loved the Lord, and always gave honor and glory to Him for all of her accomplishments. She was married to John Henry Ashley (Kennesaw, GA) for 33 years. She raised her two daughters to always put God first. She was a Sunday School teacher, choir member, occasional soloist, Lay Leader, Lay Delegate to the Annual Conference, Administrative Council Chair, Vacation Bible School teacher, and Bible student. She served on the Alabama West Florida Conference Committee on Standing Rules, Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) and Welfare and Pensions.

She became a faithful member of the Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in 2003. She praised God for sending her to Frazer. She was a member of the Board of Stewards, the Traditional Choir, the Speeders Choir, and the Sharps and Flats Sunday School Class. She also served as a Lay Reader and Vacation Bible School volunteer.

Lorene's memberships included Montgomery County Education Association, Alabama Education Association, National Education Association, Alabama Instructional Media Association, Phi Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Societies in Education, Tots and Teens of America, Metropolitan United Methodist Church, Ridgemont Avenue Neighborhood Watch, which she organized and chaired, The Southern Poverty Law Center, The NAACP, The Feminiques Social Club, Merry Larks Social Club, the Sistahs, and a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

She leaves to cherish her memory two wonderful, loving devoted daughters, Michelle Elaine Ashley, Richmond, VA, Kimberly Jan Ashley Whittaker (Colin), one granddaughter, her angel Tyse Ashley Whittaker, one step grandson, Colin Whittaker, III (Atlanta, GA and Barbados, WI). One sister Loretta Tyse McCullough (Pelham, GA) and a host of relatives and devoted friends, among them Deloris Carter (Montgomery, AL) and Thelma Bishop (Montgomery, AL), and Attorney Daniel Harris (Montgomery, AL) . She was preceded in death by her middle sister Annetta Tyse Hudson. She was especially devoted to her dear friend, neighbor, and "Sister" Elizabeth Alexander of Montgomery, AL.

Lorene loved people; she loved to laugh, dance, and sing. She was always fashion conscious, and she loved jewelry. She was a writer of poetry and prose; She was an excellent speaker; she was innovative and creative; she was a Christian; she was a friend; she was a loving mother and "Granny". Anyone who ever met her never forgot her; she had a presence about her that lingered. May the presence of Lorene Tyse Ashley always linger in your hearts and in your prayers.

Homegoing Ceremony- Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 1:00 pm Central Time

Frazer United Methodist Church Founders Chapel 6000 Atlanta Hwy Montgomery, AL 36117

● Please wear a Pop of Color

● Please park on the Atlanta Hwy side of the church campus

● COVID-19 Protocols- Face masks required, limit to 50% capacity

Live stream on YouTube available 10 minutes before the ceremony begins: https://youtu.be/CLIhDpKtkjY

There will not be a repast after the ceremony.

The family requests donation in lieu of flowers to the following organizations:

Alabama State University www.alasu.edu/about-asu/ways-give

Ivy Foundation of Montgomery Capital Campaign P.O. Box 4172 Montgomery, AL 36104 www.ivyfoundationmontgomery.org

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