Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
When Ashley talks about making a difference, she rarely talks about herself. Instead, she talks about the people who showed up for her when she needed them most.
At 11 years old, Williams lost her mother in a car accident. In an instant, her world changed. What could have become a defining tragedy instead became the foundation for a life centered on gratitude, service and community.
Today, Williams is the owner of Pest Pro in Millbrook, a growing business that employs 13 people and has become known as much for community involvement as pest control. But she says her story was never built by one person. “It took a village to raise me,” Williams said.
For the first 11 years of her life, she was raised by her mother, a single parent and business owner who worked hard to provide for her daughter. After her mother’s death, family members stepped in immediately.
Her aunt and uncle, Catherine and Larry, opened their home to her. Another aunt, Nancy, spent weekends helping her cope with the loss. Cousin Kim became more like a sister than a cousin.
“There was a whole team of people that helped take care of me and influenced me and made me who I am today,” she said.
The lesson they taught her remains the guiding principle of her life. “Always give more than you take,” Williams said. “Even when you don’t have anything to give, find it and give it.”
That spirit of generosity was woven into everyday life. Family dinners often included neighbors and friends. Their home operated with an open-door policy where everyone was welcome.
Another turning point came just months after losing her mother. In February 1999, as Millbrook launched one of its first fast-pitch girls softball leagues, a coach encouraged Williams’ uncle to get her involved. She showed up for practice and never looked back.
Softball became more than a sport. “It gave me an outlet,” Williams said.
She continued playing through her years at Stanhope Elmore High School, where she graduated after four years on the softball field. Looking back, she believes the game helped save her life by giving her purpose, structure and a healthy way to process grief.
Teachers also played a significant role during those years. Williams specifically credits educator Shay Atchison and other teachers who stepped up to support her after her mother’s death.
Their investment in her life is one reason she remains committed to supporting local schools today. Rather than allowing loss to define her future, Williams chose to use it as motivation.
“I used it as a strength instead of a weakness,” she said. “I used it to make sure I kept the people around me very proud of me instead of going down a wrong path.”
That perspective continues to shape how she approaches community service. Williams admits she never set out to become what others might call a difference maker.
“I truly believe if you want to see change, you have to be part of that change,” she said. “The only way to do that is to show up and be there for people.”
Those words have become more than a philosophy. Since opening Pest Pro in October 2020 with just three employees, Williams has used the business as a vehicle for service. The company slogan reflects that mission.
“We help people. By the way, we kill bugs,” she said with a laugh. Under her leadership, Pest Pro has expanded into wildlife services and turf management while continuing to invest heavily in local causes. One effort especially close to her heart is Operation Blue Santa.
What began with a single donation box has grown into a community-wide effort. During the most recent campaign, Pest Pro delivered four truckloads of toys and a trailer full of bicycles to help local children during Christmas.
“Being able to help the community in such an impactful fashion is truly special,” Williams said. She believes the success of those efforts comes from people trusting one another and working together toward a common goal.
While Williams serves in leadership roles throughout the region, including with the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce, she says titles and positions are not what matter most.
For her, service begins with simply showing up. Whether sponsoring youth sports, supporting schools, helping families during the holidays or creating local jobs, she believes meaningful change often starts with small acts of kindness.
Her advice to young people is simple. “Just show up and serve,” Williams said. “It may not be in the most impactful way that you think up front, but the more you do it, the bigger the cause becomes.”
For someone who lost so much at such a young age, Williams has spent her life giving back to the community that helped raise her. The village that carried her through tragedy helped shape a woman who now spends her days carrying others.
“I truly want to leave the world better than I found it,” Williams said. Judging by the lives she continues to touch throughout Millbrook and beyond, she already is.
