Ashley Gwenae Braxton

Ashley Gwenae Braxton, the daughter of Dr. Frank Braxton and Debra Mitchell-Braxton, was born on December 21, 1989, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She attended Clippard Elementary School and graduated from Cape Central High School in 2008. Upon graduation from high school, she was admitted to Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. Graduating with honors, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Ashley successfully passed her RN Nursing boards in 2014. Following her time at Riverside Hospital in Newport News, Virginia, Ashley returned to her hometown and joined the St. Francis Medical Center. From 2016 to 2024, Ashley served as a licensed registered nurse at St. Francis Medical Center, where she received numerous patient care awards and a nomination for the prestigious Daisy Nursing award. In 2022, she was accepted into the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Southeast Missouri State University, graduating in May 2024 earning a 4.0 GPA. Ashley was also inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honors Society. After passing her Nurse Practitioner boards, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of working alongside her father at Nephrology Associates, owned by Dr. Frank Braxton. Ashley used her professional knowledge and skills to provide the upmost quality medical care to the patients that she was assigned to care for throughout her career. She was a great team player and worked well with all the hospital staff. Ashley was a kind and respectful daughter to her parents, a loving sister, and niece. She was a dedicated mother to her children. Ashley pursued additional education to ensure that she would be able to garner the financial means to provide for her children. In addition to her personal career achievements, Ashley excelled as a competitive medal-winning ice skater, percussionist, pianist, cheerleader, ballet, jazz, and tap dancer. She participated in various church choirs and was an anointed praise dancer, known for her beautiful soprano voice. A member of St. James AME Church in Cape Girardeau, MO, she sang in the youth choir and was involved in the Young People's Department. While attending Hampton University, she joined the choir and served as a praise dancer at New Bethal Cathedral. While on a Summer vacation, 2024, she rededicated her life to Jesus Christ at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church in Kokomo, Indiana. Ashley cherished and created lasting memories while traveling with her family on numerous vacation destinations throughout her life. A fierce advocate even at a young age, along with her brother Sean and cousin Randy were among a group of seven student petitioners from St. James AME Church in 1999, who presented their speeches to the Cape Girardeau Public School District #63 to advocate for the protection and to honor the federal holidays of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President’s Day. This became effective January 2000 that the Cape Girardeau Public School District #63 would no longer use either federal holiday as snow makeup days. In January 2025, at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Citywide Celebration she received the Dr. C. John Ritter Humanitarian Service Award. Ashley’s legacy was of love, strength, courage, compassion, and dedication will continue to inspire many. Her radiant spirit, love for her family and so many others will forever remain in our hearts. Because of her unwavering commitment to helping others in need, the Ashley Gwenae Braxton Nursing/Medical Scholarship Fund has been established by Debra Mitchell-Braxton. In addition, her loving sister Ann Parker who is a Nurse Practitioner has established a GoFundMe page to assist with various financial needs of her beloved children. She was preceded in death by her loving grandparents Calvin and Denza Mitchell, Uncle Reginald E. Mitchell and a loving cousin Jean Hairston. She is survived by her parents, Dr. Frank Braxton and Debra Mitchell-Braxton, as well as her children, Ariana, Miller, and Braxton. Her siblings include Sean Westbrook Braxton, Cape Girardeau, MO, Frank E. Braxton of Columbia, Maryland, Ann Parker (Darrel) of Rockwell, Maryland, aunts Karen Smith and Denise Mitchell of Cape Girardeau, uncles Kevin Mitchell of Cape Girardeau, MO, and Brian (Phyllis) Siebert of Kokomo, Indiana, nephews and nieces Aiden, Delylah, and Alex of Rockwell, Maryland, and cousins Randy (Amanda) Smith of Cypress, Texas, Calvin and Naomi Smith of Cypress, Texas, Godparents Dr. Vernon and Betty Crawly of Illinois and a host of relatives, friends, and colleagues. Visitation will be 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Centenary Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the church with the Rev. Rodney Moody. Burial will be at New Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Memorial contributions may be given to their Go Fund Me page to support Ashley’s children at https://gofund.me/3eab8186 , along with the Ashley Gwenae Braxton Nursing/Medical Scholarship Fund at the Bank of Missouri, or cashapp Debra Mitchell-Braxton at $debramitchellbraxton Ford & Sons Funeral Home - Mt. Auburn is in charge of arrangements.

Tributes

Ashley Gwenae Braxton

December 21, 1989 - April 4, 2025