Ashley Kay White

Ashley was born on May 8th, 1990, in Rochester, Michigan to Steve and Cindy Elliott. She was a curious and observant child, and an early talker and reader. She began to develop her musical talents early, as well, playing violin and piano and singing regularly in her church choir.

Ashley graduated from Lake Orion Baptist School in 2007 and earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Oakland University. She worked as a paralegal and pursued her interest in horticulture, earning a Master Gardener certificate. Ashley remained active in her local music community and had recently begun playing violin in the Troy Metro Symphony Orchestra and singing with Choral Artists of Michigan. She loved to spend time outdoors and enjoyed hiking as often as she could. Ashley also expressed her love of nature through her work on the Warren Beautification Commission.

Ashley married Demetrius White on May 29, 2021, and they welcomed their twin daughters, Margot and Maeve on May 31, 2023.

Ashley was not a fan of boundaries and tight schedules. She moved through the world in the way she moved through a museum or a garden, pausing in unexpected places and frequently changing directions – always noticing details and complexities that others walk right by.

She was open-minded, a good listener, a loyal friend and family member. Ashley had a dry but sharp and surprising wit. She took matters of faith and meaning seriously and never stopped exploring and asking questions about the nature of humans and of God.

Ashley loved poetry and novels and plants and knitting and good coffee. But most of all, she loved her husband, Meech, (Demetrius) and her two beautiful daughters. She gave herself fully to being a mother, researching every decision to be made about best ways to care for her twins. Ashley read many books to them every day and was very intentional about providing them opportunities to explore nature, music, and culture. The question of how to make the world a better place for them to grow up in was a frequent subject of conversation for her.

Ashley is survived by her husband, Demetrius White, her daughters Margot White and Maeve White, her parents, Steve and Cindy Elliott, her siblings, Aaron Moore, Allison Moore, and Aubrey Austerman; and many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and in-laws, and loving friends.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 21st at 11:00 a.m. at the Lake Orion Baptist Church. The family will receive friends on Friday from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, Lake Orion and at church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.