June 12, 2019
57 year old Eddie Wayne Ashford, Sr. of Smithville passed away Tuesday at St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital. He was a member of the Mt. View The Baptist Church of Christ and a former welder at Star Manufacturing. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Robert Pollard will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 2-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Owen Ashford and Geraldine Smith Southerland, and a brother, Ricky Ashford. Survivors include his wife, Kathy Pollard Ashford of Smithville; four daughters, Christine Ashford of Germany, Amy and Jason Hotchkiss of Knoxville, and Emily Knowles of Smithville and Amber and Jose Ramirez of Atlanta. Three sons, Eddie Jr. and Kaylen Ashford of Oklahoma, and John and Matt Ashford of Smithville. Four grandchildren, Katie Knowles, Logan Gentry, and Alyssa Knowles all of Smithville and Evelyn Hotchkiss of Knoxville. Step-mother, Annie Ashford McNear of Watertown. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.