Ashley Dowtin

Ashley Shontay Dowtin was born on November 13, 1996 to Tiffany Faulk, and Anthony Dowtin. Ashley was a strong and determined fighter, who had fought many battles during her life. However, on December 24, 2002 after a brief hospitalization at Johns Hopkins Hospital she was ushered into other pearly gates of heaven where her battle at last has been won victoriously.In her early years Ashley attended the Maryland School for the Blind, and the Maiden Choice School. Since September of 2001, Ashley had been a student at the William S. Baer School located in Baltimore City. Despite her limitations, Ashley was a student who strived to do her best Ashley had been making remarkable progress in being able to meet her program goals and objectives. One major accomplishment was that she had mastered being able to stand in her stander without crying for as long as a half-hour. Ashley also enjoyed school activities and school functions, especially swimming.Ashley was a loving and affectionate child. She had a genuinely warm smile that brightened the hearts of many people that she encountered. She loved music and often sang when she heard the church choir. She loved being around people, and especially liked hearing children laugh and play. Surprising, Ashley would chuckle when she heard children being reprimanded. Caring for Ashley was and exciting and rewarding challenge. There was never a dull moment. This is because Ashley displayed many temperaments. She could be crying inexplicably one moment, and then cooing and smiling the next minute. Although, Ashley was unable to express herself verbally, she did a great job of expressing her wants and needs in other ways such as cooing, babbling, shrieking, and crying. Visually, she was limited, but amazingly Ashley’s eyes seemed focused intently on whoever that was in her presence. Often she was startled by sounds in the distance that other’s barely noticed. Ashley loved the sun no matter how cold, no matter how windy; the sun on her face always bought a smile. Ashley’s ultimate goal was to receive comfort and to be soothed. She achieved complete satisfaction when she was being held, rocked and cuddled.Ashley leaves to cherish her memory, her natural family, Tiffany Faulk-mother, Ruth Faulk-maternal grandmother, and Shontay Faulk-maternal aunt, Nashay Herd, Janera Johnson, and Jakira Johnson- (cousins) The staff members at the “Be Our Guest” group home, three devoted foster parents-Kimberley Coby and Wallace Hayes, Sheila Henderson, Sheila Honeyblue, and a host of friends, teachers, therapists, social workers; and a special friend “Trina McCuller”.

Tributes

Ashley Dowtin

November 13, 1996 - December 24, 2002