Jessie Mae Ashford

Jessie Mae Ashford, age 100, of Malvern, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2013. She was born December 28, 1912, in Shawmut, Arkansas, the daughter of William and Jennie Marie Trout Ashford. She is preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Clarence E. Ashford. Survivors include her nieces, Joyce Simmons (Tom) and Elaine Wheat Hagerty (Walt) both of Hot Springs and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Jessie was a 1932 graduate of Malvern High School and Henderson State College in 1936. She taught school in Malvern School District for five years. In 1942, during World War II, there was a need for government workers in Washington D.C. and Jessie decided to launch a new career. Ultimately, in 1951 she was assigned the job of transportation officer at the Pentagon and held that job until her retirement in 1971. As transportation officer, she scheduled aircraft transportation, including Air Force One, for heads of state and several presidents, including John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard M. Nixon. She was the only woman to ever hold this position. Upon her retirement, she received a special commendation from President Nixon for her exceptional service. Jessie continued to live in the Washington area until she moved back to Malvern in 2002. She spent much of her retirement enjoying painting and her hobby of researching family ancestry. She and her sister-in-law, Adelle Ashford, wrote five genealogy books. Jessie was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution until her death. She was a member of the chapter in the District of Columbia and also the Arkadelphia chapter. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Hot Springs. Interment will be in the Rockport Cemetery, near Malvern. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.