Brenda Ashford

Mrs. Brenda (Dillard, Box) Ashford, a well-respected woman and our beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and auntie, departed this life and went home to be with the Lord on October 3, 2025. Age 77 years. She was born May 2, 1948, in East St. Louis, IL, to the late Frank Dillard Sr. and Annie Cunningham-Austin. She will be greatly missed by many. To know her was to love her! She had a tremendous LOVE FOR GOD and was an Evangelist and Pastor for Catching Up with God's Ministries, where she welcomed EVERYONE!!!!

Brenda was a member of House of Prayer International Ministries and a church mother of Anointed Temple Ministries. She sold Avon, a distributor for Shackley, Insurance Agent, and was the Founder of Parents for Positive Youth. Her hobbies include watching movies and soap operas, cooking, and interacting with children of all walks of life, and she was a giver. She would give you the shirt off her back!

Brenda is survived by and leaves to cherish loving memories with her Children: Lecretia Roscoe, Bishop Timothy (Tamera) Holden Sr. and Raytondolyn Box; bonus daughter, LeOnada Smith; husband, Riley Ashford Jr.; grandchildren, Dennis Holden, Timothy Holden Jr., Kolby (Anton’e) Holden-Williamson, and Rayontae Box; siblings, Frank (Marcetta) Dillard Jr., Anthony (Tonda) Lovelace, Tamaria Foster, Gwendolyn (Charles) Jones, Catherine, Vincent, and Wesley Dillard; sisters-in- law, Alma Samuels, Betty and Emma Ashford; brother-in-law, Curtis (Debbie) Ashford; special niece, Felicia Jackson; goddaughter, Pastor JoAnn Gochett; godson, Apostle Richard Brown along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents: Frank Dillard Sr. and Annie Cunningham-Austin; ex-husband, Raymond Box; great-grandchildren, Dennis Holden, Jr., and Natalie Canty; brothers, Melvin Dillard, Randolph Dillard Sr.; cousin, Abu Abdul-Shaheed; beloved auntie, Hattie Sumrall; and goddaughter, Cheryl Simon.

The family would like to express our sincere gratitude to Healthsource Saginaw, St. Francis, and St. Mary’s (MyMichigan).