Karen was the loving wife of George Benham & the loving mother of Elaine, Donna, Vickie, Melinda, Faith & Billy Ashlock. Karen & I came to know each other in 1978. She & I attended the same church in Prattville, Alabama. Her 6 children attended the same private school as my 2 sons. She helped me through some very trying times in my life & always seemed to be one step ahead of me..She moved back to Arkansas within a few years but our friendship lasted till she went to be in the presence of Jesus Christ in year 2000. I cherished every phone call we made to each other. We laughed & cried over what was ahead for her. She spoke of her desire to be a winner over cancer. She did not want to leave her husband, George, her children, her grandchildren. We talked about how she had to GIVE UP but not to the cancer but had to GIVE UP TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER & leave the outcome in His loving hands, the hands that loved her more than any human ever could~loved her enough to die for her on the cross of Calvary & that is why she finally felt at peace to say ''thy will, Father God, be done''. I spoke to her the last time within a month of her homegoing. She was so weak she could not speak but over the miles & by phone we connected as always as friends. It was sad because I knew I would not speak to her again on this earth BUT I knew I would see her the next time in heaven & she would be whole. She would have an understanding of all her ''whys'' spoken not in defiance but simply to know. She is waiting with her ''little crooked smile''..she is saying ''ahh, come on, Ann, the race is worth it'' That makes me smile!! I loved her very much ... she was truly a friend who ''loved at all times'' a Godly influence leaving eternal footprints on my heart :)>
Karen is survived by her first husband William ''Bill'' Theodore Ashlock, 2nd husband George Benham, several sisters & her 6 children named above.