Obituary of Agnes Ashdown

“You have granted me life and lovingkindness; And your care has preserved my spirit.” -- Job 10:12 “Her children rise up and bless her.”--Proverbs 31:28 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”--John 11:25 Mrs. Agnes (Aggie) Young Ashdown, age 95, of Southport (St. James), North Carolina was called to her eternal home by her loving Savior Jesus Christ after a long journey with dementia, on Sunday the fifth of July, 2020 in the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Hospice Center, Bolivia, NC. Agnes was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother (Grammy Aggie), great-grandmother, aunt, friend and neighbor. Agnes enjoyed 51 years of marriage to Robert K. Ashdown, Jr before he passed away in 1996. She was a blessing to her three children, seven grandchildren (Lisa Amaya-Price, Darren Amaya, Jesse Ashdown, David Ashdown, Jonathan Ashdown, Austin Van Sloten, and Tyler Van Sloten) and 20 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews who will miss her love and generous spirit that have enriched their lives immeasurably. She is survived by her daughter, Carol and her husband, Don Amaya of Southport, NC, her son, Wayne Ashdown and his wife Bonnie of Greenwich, NY, her daughter, Beth Manz and her husband Paul of Toano, VA, and one brother, Wesley Young and his wife Elenore of Palm Springs, FL. Her brothers Albert, Warren and sister Lorraine predeceased her by many years. Born in Islip, NY on March 10, 1925, Agnes was the daughter of the late Albert E. and Theresa Gnilka Young and Gladys Abrams Young (stepmother). She lived on Long Island in the towns of Lindenhurst, Freeport and Merrick, New York before retiring to North Fort Myers, Florida. Agnes and Bob spent their summers on the Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack Mountains in Day, NY. Three years ago, she moved to Southport, NC to live with her daughter Carol and son-in-law Don. For 18 years, she worked for the Merrick Union Free School District,Merrick New York as an elementary school teaching assistant, helping students with learning disabilities. Her heart was always greatly warmed when she saw the progress of her students. Her enthusiasm, positive attitude, and expertise were most appreciated by students, teachers and staff. Aggie’s smile could light up a room. Her face shone with a radiance that came from her deep faith and love of God. An attitude of gratitude permeated her life. A believer in the power of prayer to change things, she never failed to tell others about her faith in God and her love of the Lord Jesus Christ. A true prayer warrior, she always prayed faithfully for her family and friends. The Word of God was always on her lips, and was the inspiration for how she lived her life. She was an active member of the following churches over the years, always serving faithfully: Freeport Baptist, Merrick Baptist, Northville Baptist, McGregor Baptist and First Presbyterian Fort Myers, FL. She also attended St Philips Episcopal Church in Southport with her daughter, Carol. She taught Daily Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir and was a youth group leader. Agnes’ testimony includes a miraculous recovery from a stroke in 2005. After a hard-fought rehabilitation, she was blessed with good health and continued traveling north to visit friends and family whenever possible. “Grammy Aggie” treasured the fellowship, prayer and heartfelt worship she found at her son Wayne’s church, New Covenant Community, in Schuylerville and Greenwich, NY. A lover of classical music ballet and opera, Agnes loved to sing and worship the Lord. She sang in the church choir, the choir at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Crusades in Madison Square Garden, NY and a community chorus. For over 20 years she attended the Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox, MA where she attended rehearsals and performances of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Festival Chorus.She loved attending the Metropolitan Opera in NYC and recently enjoyed the live streaming of operas from the Met. A lover of sports, she played on Freeport High School’s softball, basketball and volleyball teams, and a women’s softball league. With her husband, Bob, she played mixed doubles tennis with friends and founded the tennis association at Pine Lakes in N. Fort Myers FL where she played competitive tennis. She also enjoyed golfing with her husband and friends. Watching golf, tennis and major league baseball brought her pleasure when she could no longer participate in sports. On the occasion of her 50th wedding anniversary, Yankee announcer Phil Rizutto, congratulated Bob and Agnes during a live telecast. Rizutto remarked how the newlyweds had enjoyed a Yankee double-header while on their honeymoon in NYC in July 1945. Agnes had a gift for true Christian hospitality. Cooking delicious meals and desserts and serving them to her guests brought both them and her great pleasure. A true servant of God, she always put others first. She never knew a stranger and with her winning smile, she made friends wherever she went. Always exuding a spirit of gratitude and a compassionate character the words “Thank you” were always on her lips. She learned to accept others for who they were, adapted to meet their needs and appreciated them. She volunteered for the organization FISH (Friends in Service Here) giving those in need rides to doctor’s appointments, shopping, church or to the airport. She looked after widows in their distress supporting and comforting them in their grief. Agnes was an animal lover with a special place in her heart for dogs and cats. She enjoyed feeding the birds, especially hummingbirds and the chipmunks. An avid gardener, she would spend hours in the garden tending her vegetables and flowers. She often volunteered as a poll worker in Florida on election day. A tireless worker, she once held three different jobs to help her youngest daughter with college tuition and to pay for her son’s dental work. Agnes was a true example of the Godly woman depicted in Proverbs 31 devoting herself to her family. A proud mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, she never tired of bragging about the accomplishments of her progeny. Thank you, Aggie for the great legacy and example that you leave for those dear ones you leave behind. Onward and upward, sweet Aggie! “To God be the glory great things He has done. So loved He the world that He gave us his son. Who yielded His life in atonement for sin and opened the life gate that all may go in. ”--Lou Fellingham A graveside service and interment beside her devoted WWII veteran husband will take place in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, Schuylerville, NY at a later date. A celebration of Agnes’ life is planned at a later date at St. Philip’s Episcopol Church in Southport, NC and in Schuylerville, NY. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial donations be made in her name to: Lower Cape Fear Lifecare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401, (910) 796-7900 https://lifecare.org/ways-to-give/ Online remembrances can be made at www.flynnbrosinc.com