Ashley Nicole Bird

Ashley Nicole Bird
March 15, 1991 – May 9, 2024

On the morning of Saturday May 4, 2024 Ashley Bird entered into peaceful negotiations with her Lord and Savior and her cancer to end the war she had been battling since 2022. On Thursday May 9, 2024 the cancer surrendered her body and she claimed victory with her Savior in heaven.
Ashley was born on Friday March 15, 1991 and was a lifelong resident of Monroe County. She was a 2009 graduate of Mary Persons High School.  Ashley began working for Waffle House shortly after her 16th birthday and with the exception of a one-year stint with the Georgia Department of Corrections as a correctional officer, there she remained until she could no longer work.
Ashley was ushered into heaven by her grandparents, Dannie Ray and Brenda McKinzie and Raymond and Anna Lou Rafferzeder, and her niece Autumn Marie Payton McKinzie, who was born sleeping. She also had waiting, no doubt with fishing poles in hand, her cousins, Jamie Hunley and Christopher and Sawyer McKinzie.
Ashley is survived by her parents Jerry and Tammy Rafferzeder, sisters, Crystal (Joe) Bradley and Josie (Tristan) Jensen, brothers, Bryce Rafferzeder and Christian Adkins, her niece and nephews, Haylee, Colt and Jason Cumbie, Uncle and Aunts, Timmy (Wendy) Hunley, Sharon (Billy) Sorrow, Teresa (John) Bueter, and Ellen McKinzie, her cousins, Aspen (Noelle) Belvin and Payton Hunley, Danny Foster, Samantha (Bruce)Duke and Savannah Boyett, and Destiny, Gregory, and Jacob McKinze.
Ashley is also survived by her dad, Mark (Dawn) Bird, sisters, Sabrina (Nolan) Thigpen, Leigha (Dustin) Lepori, LaNikki (Joe) Emerick, and adopted sisters, Desiree Bird and Jessie Eason, nieces and nephews, Brantley, Colden and Rhett Lepori, Hunter, Easton and Ashton Thigpen, Ruthie, Grace, Nora and Scarlett Eason, and Layken Emerick.
To forever cherish Ashley’s memory is the love of her life, whom she wished she’d had longer to love, Summer Haynes.
Ashley’s Waffle House career afforded her the opportunity to know and love many people, and all who knew her loved her in return. Many will cherish her memory.
A viewing and memorial service will be held at Rocky Creek Baptist Church, 225 Rocky Creek Road, Forsyth, GA 31029 on Tuesday May 14, 2024 beginning at 1:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will follow at the residence of her parents, Jerry and Tammy Rafferzeder.
Gifts of flowers or live plants are welcomed, but donations for Ashley’s memorial may be given at United Bank, or in her memory to Cancer Support Services, formerly the Lydia Project at https://www.cancersupportservices.org/.
Please visit www.monroecountymemorialchapel.com to express your condolences.
Monroe County Memorial Chapel 86 West Main Street has charge of the arrangements.