Kay Asher

The family of Kay Birdwell Asher, Keithville, LA, announce her sudden and unexpected passing from this life on Friday, July 21^st. Our sorrow is vast but we are comforted by her life of service to her community and family and by her faithfulness to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We invite those who knew her to join us in celebrating her blessed and fulfilling life at the following events: Family Visitation: Thursday, July 27^th, 6:00 to 8:00 PM Kilpatrick's Rose-Neath South, Shreveport. Funeral: Friday, July 28^th, 1:00 PM at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Shreveport. Bro. Chad Hardbarger will be officiating and assisted by Bro. Harry Forester. Graveside: Friday, July 28^th, 4:00 PM at Macedonia Cemetery, Hwy 79 West, Carthage, TX. Kay was preceded in death by her parents: James Bertice Birdwell and Mary Frances Birdwell, of Carthage, TX, and an infant son (1972). She is survived by her loving husband of 48 years Michael Dennis Asher and three children: Julia Kay Greer and husband, John Greer of Dallas, Georgia; Jeremy Michael Asher and wife Catherine Russell Asher of Ruston, Louisiana; and Jeffrey Davis Asher and wife Dawn LaMattina Asher of Eagle Rock, California; and six precious grandchildren. She leaves a brother, Jimmy Birdwell and wife Kathy Bowlin Birdwell of Kennedale, Texas; and sisters Brenda McGhee and husband Jim of Richardson, Texas and Kathy Penner and husband Dennis of Carthage, Texas. Kay will be especially missed by her mother-in-law, Wilma Jean Asher of Henderson, Texas. Kay graduated from Carthage High School in 1965, received an Associate in Arts degree from Panola College (1967) and attended ETBU. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from LSU-Shreveport and Master of Social Work degree from Louisiana State University. She worked as a clinical social worker for over 20 years for the Willis Knighton Medical Center. She is a former member and officer in the National Association of Social Workers. Among her many honors, she received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from NASW. She was the co-founder and former executive board member of A Place that Warms the Heart, volunteer grief support counselors. She is a former staff member and a current board member of Heart of Hope Sanctuary for Women, Keithville, LA. As an adoption counselor, she was instrumental in many successful adoptions. For the past several years she facilitated numerous GriefShare sessions at Emmanuel Baptist Church. She was an officer with the Gideons Auxiliary, The Gideons International, Shreveport West Camp. She was an active, prayerful member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Shreveport where she was serving on the Benevolence Committee. She touched numerous lives with her sweetness, kindness, and wisdom. She was relentlessly optimistic, a proud native Carthage Texan, and she adored her family. The most important thing in Kay\'s life was her salvation through Jesus Christ. Her life was a fulfillment of Jesus' words: "By their fruits, ye shall know them." In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to one of the following: Emmanuel Baptist Church Benevolence Committee, 5850 Buncombe Road, Shreveport, LA, 71129; Heart of Hope Ministries, 10420 Heart of Hope Way, Keithville, LA, 71047; The Gideon\'s International, P.O. Box 3802, Shreveport, LA 71133-3802 (www.gideons.org).