At 6:23pm on Friday June 15, 2018, Almighty God called Dr. Stella Alvirn Roberson Ashford from her labor to her reward. She was a faithful, dedicated, and loyal servant during her life here on earth. Her work and service for the Lord speak for her. Stella attended public schools in Richland Parish, LA – Rhymes Elementary through Rhymes High School and graduated Valedictorian of her high school class in 1959. She attended Southern University and A&M College – Baton Rouge (SUBR), majoring in Mathematics and, in 1963, received a B.S. degree, graduating summa cum laude. While a student at SUBR, Stella joined Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and also met Marvin W. Ashford, whom she married in 1964.
Stella’s education continued at Louisiana State University and A&M College (LSU), obtaining her M.A. degree after which she began teaching Mathematics at SUBR in 1967. While working at Southern, Stella began doctoral study at LSU and received her Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1986. She worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) as a visiting professor, teaching Mathematics. Her career at SUBR lasted 38 years and retired from SUBR as Professor of Mathematics in 2005.
Stella was an integral and active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Zachary, LA, where she served in various capacities (i.e. Catechist, member of Altar Rosary Society, member of Catholic Daughters of America, the Funeral Committee, and Lector for Sunday Mass). Stella was also a member the Zachary Kiwanis, participating in various community events.
Her role as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, mentor, and friend, display the depth of her character and the extent of her influence.
She was preceded in death by her father, Cleve M. Roberson, her mother, Lillie (Wright) Roberson, and 11 of her siblings. Stella was the eighth child of 16 children born to her parents.
Stella’s love and commitment will always be cherished by her husband of 53 years, Marvin, Sr., her children, Marvin, Jr. (Patty), Katrina (Grady II), Marcus, her siblings, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, colleagues, and friends. Visitation will be at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Parish Hall on Friday, June 22, 2018 from 5pm until 7pm. Visitation continues on Saturday in the Parish Hall from 11am until 12:15pm. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 12:30pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 1pm conducted by Fr. M. Jeffery Bayhi. Burial will be in Southern Memorial, Baton Rouge.