Geraldine D. Ash

GERALDINE D. ASH, daughter of the late George Mitchell and Lillian Priscilla was born on March 2, 1927 in “Old Town” Baltimore, Maryland. She married Boysie Ash and from their union they were blessed with five sons and three daughters. “Dean” as she was affectionately called received her education in Baltimore City Public Schools and loved her Old Town, East Baltimore community. She was faith-filled and passionate about community service and in her younger years rallied at City Hall and Annapolis promoting voter registration, equal employment opportunities and affordable housing. She was second oldest of 18 in her immediate. And often stated she'd “rather be with the children; because they keep you young.” Her devotion to her faith instilled in her a commitment to community activism which varied from girl scouts to clean block organizer; a diligent community action agent and an emergency parent. Mama was our families very on “control one center:! She welcomed people “any time and any hour” and loved assisting them obtain needed resources such as food shelter and free healthcare. She was one of the pioneer community surveyors responsible for door-to-door data collection in preparation for the East Baltimore Revitalization Project. Later she was employed as parent liaison for the K.A.P.P.S. Program (Keeping All Pupils in School) at the Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School. Her dedication to the students extended beyond the school building as she learned students extended beyond school building as she learned students needs were more extensive than any would have imagined. Later, she became employed by the Housing Authority of Baltimore City where her love for community catapulted into community security. Mama was excited about about her role keeping the community safe. Even in her retirement she demonstrated her dedication to service. She was a graduate of Healthy Hearts Program and was excited to work with former students that she had assisted many years prior. It blessed her spirit and gave her so much joy. Mama loved her community and she was proud of her heritage . She is cousin to the great Baltimore Blues Legend, Billy Holiday. She was instrumental in the commission of the memorial statue of Billie on Pennsylvania Avenue and honored to have her first born daughter pose for its design. She loved country music, jazz, traditional and contemporary gospel. She was one of the founding members of the gospel choir at St Francis Xavier Church. Although she was never a fan of television, she loved “company” and enjoyed Tyler Perry movie nights with family and Sunday football with her daughters. She had lots of pearls of wisdom which she imparted in catchy phrases such as “you catch more flies with honey then you do with vinegar and the most memorable is her personal testimony of her love of the Lord. Ma Ma loved “for real” and her genuine spirit transcended all races and faiths. It didn't matter who you were or where you were to mama; she always blessed your spirit by saying, God Be with You”. Mama loved all her family and without hesitation she devoted her life to her children, She loved each son and daughter; each grand-child and great-grand child as an individual. Mama began each morning with her favorite prayer “Good Morning God”. She encouraged everyone to learn and practice the “Serenity Prayer” and her favorite Psalm 23, She believed in the power of prayer and as her physical health diminished her faith was comforted by praying the rosary. A former neighbor said, “She was a soldier”! She always remind us of HIS word “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me”. She was preceded in death by her husband Boysie: her twin sister Irene , sisters Stephanie, Doris, Norleen, Dannette, Emma and Joyce; her brothers Clyde, Ernest and Willie; her loving Aunt Retta and her fours sons; Boysie, Gregory, Wade and Wilbert She leaves to mourn one sister Elsie; one Gary and three daughters Sandrie, Sheila, and Mary; her loving next door neighbor Ms. Sallie and God son Roby; her grand-children, her great grandchildren and great -great grand children, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives.

Tributes

Geraldine D. Ash

March 2, 1927 - October 11, 2015