Obituary Bertram Ashe

Dr. Bertram Leonard Ashe Obituary Bertram Leonard Ashe was born on June 29, 1929, in Key West, Florida, the son of Golden and Leonard, and the younger brother of Mary Elizabeth. He was raised on the island, mostly by his grandmothers, after Golden passed in 1934. Bertram became involved in the Boy Scouts and was an acolyte at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. He worked constantly as a young boy, before and after attending school at St. Peter’s, a school that was, as he put it, “a very small school with very high standards.” He excelled at Frederick Douglass High School, elected to Student Council President in ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades, singing in the chorus, practicing oratory, acting in school productions, and playing athletics. After eleventh grade, he moved to Los Angeles where he graduated from Jordan High School in 1949 and then enrolled at Los Angeles City College. After a stint working at the U.S. Post Office, Bertram served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was happy when basic training ended: “The relief of knowing that I would no longer be running up a slippery hillside in the forest in pitch dark in the rain in the middle of the night was wonderful.” After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1953, Bertram returned to LA City College and the Post Office, working 6:00pm to 2:30am while completing his AA degree. He then enrolled at California State University, Los Angeles, and it was during this time that he began attending Wesley Methodist Church. A young woman named Dolly Smith was standing outside Wesley one spring morning, and Bertram introduced himself. Their first date was to see the Woody Herman Big Band on Christmas Day, 1953. He proposed three months later, and they were married on August 1, 1954. Bertram became the first member of his family to graduate from college in 1955, with a B.A. in Social Science. He began teaching elementary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1956 and had a distinguished career serving as a Master Teacher, Consultant in Teacher Training, Assistant Principal and Principal. While teaching, he earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Southern California. Notwithstanding his graduate degree from USC, he was a proud and passionate UCLA BRUINS fan for the entirety of his 75 years living in Los Angeles.

Bertram Ashe joined civil rights marches and rallies in Los Angeles and gave financial support for the Civil Rights Movement. He moved his family to Harbor City the very week of the Watts Riots in 1965. The Ashe family joined Wilmington United Methodist Church, where Dr. Ashe became an active layman for over 60 years, as well as a certified lay speaker in the Cal Pac Conference, Long Beach District; he also served as President of the San Pedro- Wilmington Chapter of the NAACP. While serving as principal, Dr. Ashe earned his Ed.D in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 1984. He retired from LAUSD at age fifty-eight in 1987 and joined the Teacher Education faculty as a lecturer at California State University, Dominguez Hills (Dolly’s alma mater). Bertram was a strong family man. He was very proud of his wife Dolly and his three children: Pamela Elaine, born on September 1, 1956, Bertram Duane, born in the spring of 1959, and David Bernard, born in January 1963. Given how important education was to him, he was particularly proud of the three doctoral degrees among his family of five college graduates. His support and encouragement of his wife and children was persistent and lifelong. When Dolly retired, they toured the world and enjoyed their post-work lives—and their grandbabies. Bertram’s beloved Dolly died in 2008, ending 54 years of marital happiness. After a period of mourning, Bertram married the former Cordella Wilbourne, and they remained happily married until Cordella’s death in 2021. Dr. Bertram Leonard Ashe is preceded in death by his grandmothers, Julia Elizabeth Saunders, and Mary Elizabeth Ashe; his father, Leonard Alexander Ashe, and his mother, Golden Elaine Ashe; his wives, Dolly Ashe, and Cordella Wilbourne Ashe; his sister Mary Elizabeth Webb; and stepmother Rozina Ashe. He is survived by his children, Dr. Pamela Ashe-Thomas (Eric), Dr. Bertram D. Ashe (Valerie), and David Bernard Ashe (Shirley); his grandchildren, Jordan Sioban Ashe, Bertram Leonard Garnet Ashe, and Kaylee Michelle Ashe. He is also survived by nephew Charles Marshall Webb III (Helenor) and niece Cheryl Annette Webb; great niece Tamara Sheree Webb, great nephew Floyd Webb, and great nephew Aaron Webb McClendon, as well as a host of extended family, in-laws, and friends.

FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023 ~ 11:30 AM Senior Pastor Rev. Helena M. Titus, Officiant Prelude ..................................................................Kevin Davis, Music Director Processional….“It is Well” ...........................................Sharon Cowan, Soloist Words of Greeting................................................................................................. Opening Prayer ..................................................................................................... The Lord’s Prayer........................................................................... Jordan Ashe Scripture….NT John 14:1-6, 25-27 ............................................... Melanie Lee Ministry of Music/Video “The Way We Were”...................Aveli Clay, Soloist Obituary ............................................................................. Dr. Bertram D. Ashe Acknowledgments ......................................................Rosetta Broomfield, Esq. Reflections.........................................Mr. Leslie Powell, Wilmington 1st UMC Mrs. Mary Stallings, Educator Colleague Dr. Lance Williams, Dr. Bertram Leonard Ashe Educational Fund Ministry in Music...“O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go”...Aveli Clay, Soloist Reflections...................Dr. Felton Williams, Long Beach Board of Education Mr. Ernest Howard, Long Time Friend & Foundation Board Member Ministry of Music….“How Great Thou Art” ......................Aveli Clay, Soloist Eulogy...................................................................................... Rev. Helena Titus Parting View .......................................................................................................... Recessional .................................................................................................................... Repast: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 1648 W. 9th St., San Pedro, CA



Look not where I was For I am not there My spirit is free I am everywhere. In the air that you breathe In the sounds that you hear Don't cry for me My spirit is near. I'll watch for you From the other side I'll be the one running New friends by my side. Smile at my memory Remember in your heart This isn't the end It's a brand new start. Author Unknown

Active Pallbearers Bertram L.G. Ashe Daniel Balthard Benny Blades Harold Davis, Jr. Dana Howard Floyd Webb Honorary Pallbearers Henry Ashe Harold V. Cowan Ernest Howard James Johnson Leslie Powell Dr. Felton Williams Acknowledgement Perhaps you sent a lovely card or sat quietly in a chair. Perhaps you sent a floral piece, If so, we saw it there. Perhaps you spoke the kindest words As any friends could say, Perhaps you were not there at all, Just thought of us this day. Whatever you did to console our hearts, We thank you so much, whatever the part. ~The Family Obituaries by Mack Enterprises Unlimited 323.789.6224

The Mission of the Bertram L. Ashe Educational Foundation is to provide tools, programs, and services for under-served African American students to successfully complete post-secondary education. We welcome your generous donations to keep Dr. Ashe’s Legacy alive: https://blaef.org/