Carolyn V. “Deta” Ashley, 62, passed away and left a world immeasurably brighter for having been in it. She was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend whose warm spirit and open heart touched everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Deta never met a stranger. She greeted every person in her life — and there were many — with a trademark hug and a smile that made each one feel like the most important person in the room. She was, in every sense of the word, a blessing to all who knew her.
A woman of remarkable energy and heart, Deta lived life to its fullest. She was a proud member of a dance troupe through Orange Grove Center in partnership with Barking Legs Theater and dazzled audiences in numerous talent shows through Double G Camp and Orange Grove Center. For several years she competed in Special Olympics swimming, embodying the spirit of determination and joy that defined everything she did. She also stood as a voice and leader for the mentally challenged citizens of Tennessee, representing her community at the state capital in Nashville — a role she carried with quiet dignity and pride.
Deta’s career spanned several positions over the years, but none more memorable than her time serving in the City of Chattanooga Mayor’s Office, where she brought her characteristic warmth to all she encountered. She was also a faithful member of Ridgedale Baptist Church in East Brainerd, Tennessee, where her faith was a cornerstone of her life.
Her sense of adventure was as boundless as her heart. Deta traveled to Ireland, sailed on family cruises, and embraced new places and cultures with a spirit of independence and wonder — each journey a testament to her purpose and accomplishment.
Deta is survived by her devoted parents, David Malcolm Ashley and Betty Doris “Susie” Ashley; her sisters Dawn Ashley Long and Sherry Wallmarker (husband Christer Wallmarker); her cherished nieces and nephews Erica Blackwell, Jonathan Wallmarker, Ashley Long, Michael Wallmarker, Nicole Watkins, Kelly Long, and Shannon Phillips; and her beloved uncle and aunt, Chuck and Linda King, and uncle and aunt Dan and Agnes King.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents Emmett Clinton Ashley, Mamie Vendeta Ashley, Clyde King, and Carolyn King, and by her dear sister Sheila Stiefel Hurley.
Deta’s legacy is not measured in years but in every hug she gave, every friend she made, and every heart she filled. Heaven gained one of its most enthusiastic huggers. She will be deeply and forever missed.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 pm on Wednesday, May 13, at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home
A Celebration of Life service for Deta will follow at 5 pm on Wednesday at the North Chapel with her former Pastor Bill Owens officiating.
Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com
The arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
