Willie Mae Hardy Ashley was born to the late Annie Mae Mercer Hardy and Deacon Oscar
Hardy on May 24, 1922. She joined First Missionary Baptist Church as a young child and
was an active member throughout her life.

The fourth of five children, she grew up in Fernandina and graduated as valedictorian of the
Peck High class of 1940. Her siblings, Elizabeth Harris, Allein Williams, Blanche Williams
and Robert Hardy, all preceded her in death.

She earned a B.S. degree from Bethune Cookman College, completed graduate school at the
University of Michigan and received the M. Ed. degree from Florida A&M University. At First
Missionary Baptist Church she served in many roles as required, substitute Sunday school
teacher, pianist for church, Sunday school, and Vacation Bible School sessions, and delegate
to the National Baptist Convention.

The recipient of numerous awards and honors, Mrs. Ashley was Teacher of the Year 1964 -
65, and was an honored guest at the National Baptist Convention in 1990. She served as
President of the Nassau County Teachers Association, was an active life member of the
National Council of Negro Women and the National Education Association and served as
delegate to the NEA convention for many years.

Her dedication to Peck High and all of its students was a life-long commitment: she served
on the committee and undertook research and letter writing across the state in the efforts
to gain historical status for the building and for its restoration. In a citywide celebration
on March 6, 2004, the Peck Center Auditorium as renamed the Willie Mae Hardy Ashley
Auditorium.

She is the author of “Far From Home”, a biography of Emma B. Delaney, a member of FMBC,
who was one of the early African American female missionaries to Africa. She was known throughout the community as the historian of African American life in the area. Her research, a collection of writings on the history of African Americans in Fernandina Beach, is compiled in the unpublished, but studied work, “The Ebony Connection”.

Willie Mae Hardy Ashley was always ready for a new adventure and she traveled throughout the United States, Europe and West and Southern Africa. She loved to read and was a great collector of books and African Art.

She leaves to mourn her loss and celebrate her legacy a host of nieces, nephews and friends.The Viewing will take place on Friday, November 7, from 5-8 p.m. at her home church, First Missionary Baptist Church, 20 South 9th. The Service will be held Saturday, November 8, at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1600 South 8th Street, Fernandina Beach. Please sign the family guest book and view the video tribute @ www.tswarden.com. Arrangements in care of Tyrone S. Warden, FDIC, 4315 N. Main Street, 765-1234. Please sign the family guest book and view the video tribute @ www.tswarden.com. Arrangements in care of Tyrone S. Warden, FDIC, 4315 N. Main Street, 765-1234

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