Lita Cochran Ashley

Lita C. Ashley was born August 8, 1927, to Ernest B. and Mayme Martin Cochran, in Hustonville, Kentucky. She attended the local public schools, continuing to Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. After her marriage to Perry J. Ashley in 1952, the couple moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where Lita continued her education at the University of Kentucky, earning a bachelor’s degree in education. During her undergraduate years she showed her intellectual spark and breadth through a fascination with, among other subjects, botany and archeology, interests she held for a lifetime.

The years in Lexington showed Lita to be a loving and devoted wife, mother, and homemaker—a fine cook among the many in her family. She also taught. mostly 5th grade, in the public schools. In 1965 the family moved to Carbondale, Illinois, where Perry earned his PhD in journalism history at Southern Illinois University; Lita continued to teach during this time. The Ashleys moved to Columbia, SC in 1967, when Perry joined the faculty of USC’s journalism school, and Lita no longer needed to work, taking the opportunity to focus on her other interests. As the family lived near Fort Jackson, she served as an American contact and host for foreign-born wives of servicemen (those who visited her home will remember the beautiful blue ceramic plate given her by one of these women which she always had on display). She and Perry travelled widely in the US, Canada, and Europe, and their collection of 35mm slides from their travels provided them many hours of fond memories. For many years Lita was a docent at the Columbia Museum of Art, forming a lifelong love of the visual arts as well as enduring friendships, and she was active as a member of, first, Shandon Methodist Church, and, later, Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

Lita and Perry moved to Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community in West Columbia in October 2005, shortly after Building 5 (Trinity) was completed. At Still Hopes Lita made many new friends and was much beloved by residents and staff members alike for her bright, attentive mind and her extraordinary kindness to all. She was a voracious reader and the library at Still Hopes—and, in her last year, a Kindle e-reader—kept her interests alive and her conversations vibrant. While at Still Hopes she acquired a love for the Episcopal liturgy and attended chapel services there weekly, in person or by video, for the rest of her life.

Lita was predeceased by her husband Perry and her brothers Lewis, Thomas, and Burton Cochran. She is survived by her sons Jonathan (Jan Moon) and Richard (Allison Myers), grandchildren David Ashley (Erin Myers), Joanna Schuerman (Jered), Rachel Morway (Jordan), Christopher Ashley (Elise Hanley), Anna Ashley (Moises Llaqui Llanca), and great-grandchildren Noah Ashley, Jacob Ashley, Lia Llaqui Ashley, and Dylan Llaqui Ashley.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 25 at 2PM, at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community, One Still Hopes Drive, West Columbia, SC, with reception to follow. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Still Hopes’ Chaplain’s Discretionary, 1 Still Hopes Drive, West Columbia, SC, 29169, or the Eastminster Endowment, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC, 29204.