Director Sandy Ashley (center) and members of the local DSS staff took a moment to pose for a picture outside the office last week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Carolyn Cleary, Jane Wyatt, Detha Shepherd, Leia Crouse, Lisa Osborne; (second row) Santiago Reales, Lisa Tucker, Ashley; (third row) Ellen Bennett, Judy Mabe, Beth Mabe, Glenda Ham, Teresa Hurley, Opal Carrico; (fourth row) Pat Andrews, Dana Johnson, Barbara Young, Margaret Williams, Christy Johnson and Alison Blevins.

Ashley to retire after 30 years in social work

When Sandy Ashley retires as director of the Alleghany County Department of Social Services in December, she will take nearly 30 years worth of experience and memories with her.

Ashley, an Alleghany native, is the daughter of Dr. Jack Ashley and Mildred Ashley. Her mother still lives in the county, as do her sister and brother-in-law, Candy and Stan Smith and stepbrother Chris Ashley. Meanwhile, her retired physician father resides in Florida, two brothers live in the Raleigh area and one stepbrother lives near Charlotte. Ashley was a part of the first class to complete all four years of high school at Alleghany High. As the daughter of a physician, Ashley said she initially wanted to be a doctor, but found out rather quickly one of the last things she could tolerate was blood.

A friend of Doris Busic, the former director of the local department of social services, Ashley noted prior to going to college at Western Carolina University, she had an interest in the work Busic was doing.

"I had some friends in the social work major, so I thought I would just try some classes to help try to get me interested in some social work," Ashley said. "I took some courses and fell in love with it." After receiving a bachelors in social work from Western in 1975, Ashley returned to Alleghany, where she accepted a position from Busic to work at the department of social services.

Ashley said she was the individual responsible for the county's child support enforcement program, that, in layman's terms, held the adults responsible for the welfare of their children, even if they did not reside with them.

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