Ashley McClellan Hardy Prince met her Creator at her residence in Tupelo on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. She was 57 years old. Ashley was born in New Orleans, LA on October 7, 1966, fully endowed with a New Orleans spirit and all the cultural accruements. Her parents were Alan Hardy, who survives, and the late Joan McClellan Hardy. She graduated from Little Rock Christian High School and completed her undergraduate degree in Business from LSU. Ashley, with a lifelong penchant for learning, ultimately got her MBA in Marketing and International Business from Tulane University in the heart of New Orleans. She married Mark Prince on August 21, 2000, on the Pacific Ocean island of Fiji. After 5 years in Hattiesburg, MS, the Princes made their home in Tupelo 18 years ago. Ashley had a contagious personality, made friends easily, and had a servant’s heart. She was the quintessential civic minded volunteer serving several charitable organizations in the Tupelo area. One of her great loves was sitting on the board and supporting the causes of the Regional Rehabilitation Center in Tupelo. A longtime Ambassador for CDF, Ashley was present for hundreds of ribbon cuttings. Her vibrant smile was a welcomed joy for newcomers and old friends in our area. She loved animals and art, was a former partner in Caron Gallery with Kim Caron, and spent many hours at the Gumtree Museum of Art. Her home had numerous beautiful pieces of original artwork adorning the walls. Ashley was a freelance social media marketing specialist. She had spent the last several years as Sales and Marketing Director for Local Mobile Food Truck. An LSU fan, she quickly yielded to her avid Ole Miss Rebel family and became a staunch supporter of all things Ole Miss. She and her family were members of The Orchard. Ashley made her life count for positive, important things, was a constant encourager to her wide circle of friends and her children, and left this world much better than she found it. She will be missed by all.
A Life Celebration service reflecting her love of Mardi Gras, her strong faith in God, and her love for justice and equality for all of humanity will be announced in the next couple weeks by Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo, which is honored to serve their friends.
Ashley is survived by her husband, Mark; her daughter, Gracyn Alana Prince (22), a senior at Ole Miss and her son, Carson Hardy Prince (20), a sophomore at Ole Miss; her father, Alan Hardy and his wife, Clayton Frazer Hardy of Pass Christian, MS; her brother, Hunter Hardy of Atlanta; her aunts, uncles, cousins and their families, and a host of great friends all across the Mid-South. She was preceded in death by her mother, Joan Hardy.
Memorials may be made to the Regional Rehabilitation Center, 915 Pegram Drive, Tupelo, MS 38801.
Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.
