Ms. Denajah Lashay Askew of 1366 Pinehurst-Hawkinsville Road, Pinehurst, Georgia passed away Friday, February 14, 2025, at the WS Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the Dooly County K-8 School Gymnasium in Pinehurst, Georgia.  The burial will follow at the Pleasant Valley Church Cemetery in Pinehurst, Georgia.

A Time to be Born:  On February 2, 2000, Denajah Lashay Askew was born to the late Ms. Christina Bouchea Daniels and Mr. Darren Askew, Sr. Najah, as she was affectionately known, captivated the heart of everyone she knew and loved. She possessed a humble and meek personality and would go out of her way to accommodate the needs of others.

A Time to Flourish:  Najah received her spiritual cultivation at Evergreen Baptist Church in Pinehurst, GA. She served the church in many capacities including singing in the choir, greeting people as an usher, and lending a helping hand on the food service committee.

During her matriculation through the Dooly County School system, Najah received many accolades and not only excelled academically but in extracurricular activities as well. She maintained honor roll throughout her academic career in Dooly County which afforded the opportunity to be inducted into the National Beta Society. Najah enrolled in Dual Enrollment classes during high school and before graduating had earned more than thirty college credits. Under the leadership of Kristen Anderson and To'Morias Brown, she became an avid cheerleader. Eventually, Najah became stunt leader for the cheer team. She and the cheer team went on to participate in many competitions. She was a 2018   Honor graduate of Dooly County High School. Najah was the recipient of several honors and scholarships to include the Hope, DCHS Alumni, Bullard Boyz, Dooly County Retired Teachers, Coes, Mathis, and DKG scholarships.

In August of 2018, she began studies as a sophomore majoring in nursing at Columbus State University. At the time of her diagnosis, she had been accepted into a rigorous and competitive nursing program which was earned through long nights of studying and countless hours of hard work.

A Time to Die:  On February 14, 2025 at Wellstar University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, God called his servant's name, and Najah peacefully took his hand and went to be with the Lord. She was a true warrior and fought to the end. Najah will forever be remembered for her radiant and infectious smile, tenacity, and humble personality.

Najah is preceded in death by her mother, Christina Bouchea Daniels; her grandparents, Mary Ruth Daniels, J. C. Daniels, Sr. and Charlie B. Askew; her aunt and uncle, Mary Ann Cosby and Odell Bryant.

Forever in Our Hearts:  Najah leaves cherished memories to her loving and devoted father, Darren Askew of Unadilla, GA; her devoted aunt/caregiver, Dorothy Bryant of Pinehurst, GA; her loving sisters, Monyia Adda Askew of Pinehurst, GA, Deashia Askew of  Unadilla, GA, Mason and Madison Askew of Byromville, GA; her brothers, Darren Askew, Jr. of Atlanta, GA and Nakevius (Nancy) Bryant of Elko, GA; godbrother, Castonia Thomas, Jr. of Vienna, GA; her grandmothers, Bertha Minor of Unadilla, GA and Alethea Askew of Cordele, GA; her  aunts, Demier Crane of Vienna, GA, Joyce McKenzie, Shenice Daniels, and Crystal Whitehead of Unadilla, GA, Margaret (Otis) Shelley of Oglethorpe, GA, Sharon Bembry of Warner Robins, GA, Kimberly Askew of Cordele, GA and Earnestine Nwathukwu of Atlanta, GA; her uncles, Lynn (Jean) Thomas of Unadilla, GA, Mack Daniels of Warner Robins, GA, J.C. (Mary)  Daniels, Jr. and Bryce (Pamela) Daniels of Cordele, GA, Deon Daniels of Vienna, GA, Troy (Freda) West of Unadilla, GA, Charlie (Betty) Askew of Perry, GA, and Shon Robinson of Atlanta, GA; her cousins, Talexiah Crane, Corey Shelley, Nakevius "DJ" Bryant, Nakari Bryant, and Shamari Webb; uncle and aunt Carl and Gwendolyn Henry; dear friends, India Collier, Savannah Lee, and China Adams, and a host of cousins, other relatives, and many sorrowing friends.