Sandra "Sandi" Ashworth (1943-2021)
Sandi Ashworth was born Saundra Orleen Batson in Charleston, West Virginia on December 15, 1943 to Orla Seager and Myrtle Amelia (Redfox) Batson. She went peacefully to be with her Lord on July 3, 2021 in her adopted home of San Antonio, Texas. She attended Stonewall Jackson High School. She received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from West Virginia University in 1965, where she also met her future husband, Michael Ashworth. After marrying, she and her husband moved to San Antonio, Texas so Mr. Ashworth could continue his military career at Lackland AFB. Sandi became an elementary school music teacher and in 1974, she received her Master of Education in Counseling at Trinity University. She divorced and decided to remain in San Antonio because she loved the River Walk.
She retired from full-time teaching after 42 years in the Alamo Heights School District and continued to substitute and voluntarily teach guitar to 4th and 5th graders one day a week at Woodridge Elementary. She was a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, where she served as Elementary School President and Photographer. She was a member of
the Texas Choral Directors Association and the San Antonio Choral Society.
Sandi became a member of Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church in October, 1973. She was hired as their Music Director in October, 1990, faithfully serving the congregation the rest of her life. She served on the Worship Committee and led the Choir and Handbells. She attended a Walk to Emmaus, and was a member of the Agape Band and the Ukulele Ladies
& Gents of Saint Andrew.
She would return to West Virginia to visit with family and friends during the summer. Sandi was an avid photographer and scrapbooker. She was in a group called the Cadence Cloggers, and the dance group had a small part in the Burt Reynolds/Dolly Parton movie filmed in Texas.
She loved her students, their parents, her colleagues, friends, and church family very much. Sandi loved Christmas. “Sandi Claus” would deliver Christmas gifts on her birthday to businesses she visited regularly, teachers and staff at Woodridge, her church friends, and her scrapbook ladies.
Sandi was very active until her last hospitalization in April, 2021.
Henry Holloway (1929-2024)
Born on February 28, 1929 in Hondo, TX, Henry was the 3rd son of Leslie Holloway and Nettie (Woolls) Holloway. After graduating from Hondo High School, he received two degrees from Southwestern University: a Bachelor of Music Education in 1950 and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education in 1951. He served as a combat engineer and chaplain’s assistant in the US Army from 1952-1954. Following his honorable discharge, Henry entered Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, graduating with a Master of Divinity in 1956. He then moved to New York to attend Union Theological Seminary and The Juilliard School, receiving a Master of Sacred Music in 1958. Forever a lover of music education, Henry moved his family to Croydon, England for the summer of 1978 to study at the Royal School of Church Music.
In 1958, Henry started as Director of Music at Laurel Heights United Methodist Church in San Antonio, a position he would hold until his retirement in 1998. During his 40 years at Laurel Heights, Henry established a number of traditions including the Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols, the summer Youth Choir Show, and the Laurel Heights Super Adult Program.
In 1965, with his friend Gwilym H. Isaac, Henry help found the San Antonio Choral Society and served as their conductor for 15 years until stepping down in 1980. Under his baton, the Choral Society performed many major choral works, including the Bach B Minor Mass, Handel’s Messiah, and many Requiems, to name just a few.
In addition to his 40 years at Laurel Heights UMC, Henry served the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church from 1958-1990 where he organized and directed the annual Adult Choral Workshops, Youth Choir Rallies, and Children’s Choir Singing Outings. He was also a sought after choral clinician and led choral workshops for children, youth, and adults in Texas, Alaska, Colorado, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Florida, California, New York, and Maryland. After his retirement he served as Interim Music Director at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Christ Lutheran Church, and First Presbyterian Church.
Throughout his decades of musical service to sacred music, the San Antonio music community, and the greater musical world, Henry inspired, mentored, and encouraged many budding musicians. His love of choral music was infectious and his legacy lives on in the many people he touched through their involvement in music and church.