James David "J.D." Ashcraft

James David “J.D.” Ashcraft, age 94, lovingly known as “Doc” by his grandchildren, resident of Somerville, Tennessee and husband of Shelva Ashcraft, departed this life Monday afternoon, September 30, 2024 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

J.D. was born April 14, 1930 in Booneville, Mississippi, the son of the late Sam David Ashcraft and Vivian Marion Skelton Ashcraft. He served his country in the United States Air Force for 22 years as a civil engineer and with crash fire rescue. He was employed with the City of Somerville as a fire chief before his retirement.

J.D. was married May 20, 1954 to Shelva Roberson Ashcraft. He was baptized at Liberty Baptist Church near Somerville. In earlier years, he was involved with the Boy Scouts and was more recently a member of the Somerville Masonic Lodge. J.D. enjoyed birdwatching, woodworking and was an avid traveler with Shelva.

Mr. Ashcraft is survived by his wife of 70 years, Shelva Ashcraft; his daughter, Mitzi Roberts (Charlie Roberts) of Memphis, TN; his son, David Lee Ashcraft of Somerville, TN; three grandchildren, David Russell Ashcraft of Virginia Beach, VA, Amelia Lynn Ashcraft (Charles Williams) of Kansas City, MO and Lacey Ann Dimmel (Grant Dimmel) of Blue Springs, MO; and six great-grandchildren, Ethan, Jonah, Kylee, Cambrie, Gracelynn and Raegan.

Funeral Services for Mr. Ashcraft were held at 2 P.M. Sunday, October 13, 2024 at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Reverend Mark Oliver, Children’s Pastor at Hickory Withe Baptist Church in Eads, Tennessee, officiating. Interment with Military Honors followed in Somerville City Cemetery.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were David Russell Ashcraft, Charles Williams, Grant Dimmel and David Lee Ashcraft.

The family requests that memorials be directed to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.