Ann Ashcraft

Ann Ashcraft, whose effervescent smile made everyone’s day brighter and whose contagious laugh filled the air with joy and delight, died April 15, 2018 in Richmond, Virginia. She was 68 years old.Ann was born in Neosho, Missouri, the Flower Box City, to Galen and Leila Jo Browning. Ann will forever be remembered for her embrace of life as it comes; for her unfailing optimism and positive outlook; for her sense of adventure and wonder; for openness and welcoming arms for all; for her warm spirit and, mostly, for the love she shared with others inspiring those around her to reach beyond the norm. A dedicated servant of God, Ann lit up the sanctuary every Sunday as a choir member, smiling her way through the music; her trademark curls bouncing back and forth to the rhythm of the hymns.She was the wife of a Sr. Minister for over 40 years and shouldered this role with grace and good humor. Not an easy task. She taught Sunday school for over 20 years. The Ann Ashcraft Sunday School class was always intelligent, interactive, joyful and life changing for hundreds of people.Trinity Baptist named a class after her that lived for over 25 years. Though accomplished and successful beyond measure in her professional life, Ann did not clamor for the spotlight nor did she attempt to grasp for power or control.She mostly enjoyed snuggling up with a good mystery novel, going for drives with her husband Randy in their 1955 MG, taking sunrise walks, spending time with her adoring son, Graham, and, most recently, loving on her three grandchildren, Zane, Levi and Skyler. And yet Ann did so much good for so many that it is only right to tell her story. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Oklahoma Baptist University with a BA in History, Ann began her work life as an executive with Southwestern Bell in Dallas, Texas. Ann crashed through several glass ceilings in her career with Bell and received the prestigious Presidents Club Award for outstanding sales with the banking industry in 1979.She soon was asked to join the corporate staff at the home office in St. Louis where she wrote and implemented the strategy for the banking industry system-wide. Wanting nothing more than to have a child, Ann gave up her executive career to pursue every avenue of hope to have a baby.She researched the cutting edge advances in medicine to determine if any of the new discoveries would help her and Randy with a pregnancy.It was Ann’s tenacity and focus, pushing doctors to explore one more avenue of possibility that led to the birth of Charles Graham Ashcraft in June of 1982.What joy! After a stop in Seneca, South Carolina where Ann taught history at Seneca High School, she moved to Tampa, Florida, where her work mad such an impact on so many, especially the lives of children, that her indelible mark is felt to this day. From 1992-2002, Ann worked tirelessly to reduce infant mortality rates in the state as the Executive Director of the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County. In 1998 Ann was honored as Business Woman of the Year in Tampa for her outstanding leadership citywide.As Healthy Start grew in recognition and impact, Ann was asked to serve as the first President for over 35 Healthy Start Coalitions statewide. She worked closely with two Governors, and upon her resignation and move to Virginia Hillsborough County issued a special Proclamation on October 22, 2002 to honor Ann’s leadership in the county and the city of Tampa, Florida. In Leesburg, Virginia, Ann served as the Head of School for Dominion Academy shepherding hundreds of students through their formative years and making them feel safe and welcome with that big Ann Ashcraft smile.She was a formative leader for her faculty of 40 teachers and developed new and innovative ways for Dominion to deliver an outstanding education in a Christian context.Dominion was never stronger than when Ann was the Head of School. Most recently Ann served as a consultant with Bon Secours Hospital system in Richmond and as a coach for young executives along with her husband Randy. It was difficult to be in Ann’s presence and not leave feeling like the day was a bit brighter. And though her physical presence is no longer with us, we feel her with us in the warmth and light of every sunrise.We call these days“Ann Ashcraft Days” or, for her grandchildren, “Nana Days”.The light Ann Ashcraft brought to the world has made us all better people. It is light that will never be extinguished.We love you Ann.You offered us all the best of yourself and in so doing we were able to see the love and spirit of God through your life.We will see you in the sunrise and the sunset and give thanks everyday for you.You loved us with all your heart.Beyond this, one cannot go. Ann is preceded in death by her mother Leila Jo Fowler Browning, her father Galen Browning and her sister, Gale Potter all from Neosho, MO. Ann is survived by her husband Randy Ashcraft of Richmond, Virginia, one son, Graham Ashcraft of Brooklyn, New York, and his wife Amanda Rae and their three beautiful grandchildren, Levi Davis, Zane Porter, and Skyler Rae, her brother Mark Browning and step brother Dale Mitchell of Joplin, Missouri and her sister Cathy Browning of Neosho, Missouri.She also leaves behind a “great cloud of witnesses”; the community of saints who are her friends, companions and travelers on the road to our final transformation.Selah A celebration of Ann’s life will be held on May 4th at the First Baptist Church of Richmond, 2709 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA at 4:00 pm.A reception will follow the service at the Branch Museum of Design also on Monument Ave adjacent to the church. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Ann’s honor and memory to the Freemason Street Baptist Church “Norfolk Street Choir” serving homeless persons in Norfolk Va.400 E. Freemason Street, Norfolk, Virginia.Ann loved this choir and celebrated this mission of hope and love. Her voice will sing on. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wclfh.com.Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home is caring for the family.