Rev. Bill J. Ashley Obituary (1925

Rev. Bill Julius Ashley was called home on May 30, 2014 at his residence. A home going celebration will be held 10:00am, Saturday, June 7, 2014 at Redeemed Fellowship Church 7922 West Pahs Road with Pastor Ernest Jones, Officiating the eulogy will be given by Pastor David Ashley, burial to follow at Swan Lake Memorial Gardens Cemetery with military honors. Visitation 9:00am, Saturday at the church until the time of service. Bill Julius Ashley was born on April 28, 1925 to the late Cleveland and Rosie (Johnson) Ashley in Dubach, Louisiana. He came from a large family having 19 brothers and sisters. He attended Hopewell School and served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1946. He was a First Class Seaman. He fought in WWII and was aboard two ships - one being the USS Rocham Beau and the USS Ganymede. Bill accepted Jesus The Christ at an early age. He relocated to Michigan City, Indiana in the early 1950's. He united in holy matrimony to Clara Collins in 1970. They shared 44 years together on this side of glory. They share 12 children in this union. Bill was the pastor of Rock of Ages. He later founded Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in 1975 where he served as senior pastor for 29 years. He was an active member in the community and was politically inclined. He was often called upon to serve or offer guidance for Michigan City former Mayors Arnold, Brillson and Oberlie. Bill served the community in many different capacities. From 1975-1999 he served in radio ministry at WIMS on the Get Acquainted Program; From 1980-2002 he was the President of the Northwest Indiana Ministers Conference; From 1990-1999 he served as a Michigan City Police Department Chaplain. He was the treasurer for the Chaplains from 1999-2003; He was the Chaplain at Saint Anthony Memorial Hospital in the mid 2000's. He served as a board member for the Homeless Shelter and the Martin Luther King Jr. steering committee. He was a member of the NAACP. He also was called upon to help keep order at the Michigan City Area Schools when the youth were going in the wrong direction. Some of Bill's hobbies include being a mechanic by trade. He could work on any vehicle and fix it. He loved to take his boat out on the lake to fish. He was easy to get along with. He was known to be friendly, fair, loving and caring. Bill leaves to cherish behind his beautiful and devoted wife, Clara Ashley, Michigan City; his children Jerry (Rene) Ashley Michigan City, IN, Min. Roger Ashley Denver, CO, Larry (Evone) Ashley Racine, WI, Rosie (Pastor Ernest) Jones Michigan City, IN, Kenneth Ashley Michigan City, IN, Tonya Davis Griffith, IN, Bruce Ashley Michigan City, IN, Phyllis (Dave) Wells Mishawaka, IN, Yolanda Ashley Michigan City, IN, Pastor David (Jillian) Ashley Michigan City, IN, and Sharon (Keevey) Davis St. Louis, MO; his sisters Maggie Holland Oakland, CA, Florece (Robert) Henderson, Michigan City, IN, Verlee (Rev. Joseph) Blackshere Pontiac, MI, Tressia Ashley Pontiac, MI and Shirley Ashley Brandon, MS; he also leaves behind 41 grandchildren, 73 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren; his God children Toshia Fleming, Pastor Charles M. Jones Jr., Charlene Jones-Clark, Freddie Jones, William Jones and Jolena Phillips. His adopted grandsons D'Shawn Martin, Julian Smith and Raymond Spencer. He leaves a host of nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. Preceded in death are his parents Cleveland and Rosie Ashley; son Billy Ashley; Brothers Levi, Pervis, Robert and Theodis Ashley and sisters Ruth Dunlap and Cleo Dyer.