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Oral history.; Mr. Augustus (Gus) Ashby Sr. was born in 1924, in Washington, D.C. and moved to Tupelo where he became active in the local church. After high school, he attended college in Holly Springs and Okolona, Mississippi. He was a member of the Henry Hampton Elks Lodge Number 782 and served as its Exalted Ruler. He was also president of the Tupelo Civil Improvement Club and for his services was awarded the Golden Heritage Award from the NAACP as well as the Special Service Award from the Black Business Association of Mississippi. He was a veteran of World War II and worked at the Day-Brite Lighting Company. With his wife, he ran Ashby's Cash Grocery Store.