Asher Pickett

Asher Manning Pickett came into this world on October 7, 2021 at 7:05 am weighing 1 lb. 14 oz. He was born at 26 weeks and 5 days and was a fighter from the very beginning. He had a head full of hair, big feet, and long fingers. He was feisty, energetic, and full of love.  He loved his mommy and daddy’s voice, their bedtime stories, and holding their fingers. Asher passed away peacefully on October 25th, 2021 in the arms of his mom and dad after he put up such a great fight for 18 days. Though Asher’s time was short, he touched so many lives and was loved by all who came in contact with him. While the family is hurting beyond belief, they are glad that their perfect little boy is now free of pain and suffering. He is now in the loving arms of Gary Golden, Mary Casto, Mildred Golden, and Bill Parker.

A huge thank you to Dr. James Studdard, who emergently delivered Asher; chaplain Paul Murphy; the great Baptist Health Little Rock labor and delivery nurses and postpartum nurses; and all the Baptist Health Little Rock NICU staff, especially Asher’s favorite nurses: Sherissa Groves, Halea Williams, Carmen Weddle, and Kristina Wilson-Mahan who were with him most of his life. Also, thank you to the great nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors, respiratory therapists, social workers, chaplains, and all other staff at Arkansas Children’s hospital who were blessed to meet Asher.

Asher is survived by his parents, Bryce and Hannah Pickett; his grandparents, Don and Cindy Pickett and Johnnie Golden; his aunt and uncle, Alexa Pickett and Kevin Golden; his cousin, Eli Pickett; his great grandmother, Sylvia Parker; and many great aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family is hosting a visitation at Smith Family Funeral in North Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday October 30th from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Visitation is open to all friends of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting baby book donations be brought to the service or mailed to KaLynn Fisher at 3300 John F. Kennedy Blvd, North Little Rock, AR 72116 so the family can put a personal stamp in the book and donate to Baptist and Childrens’ NICU in Asher’s honor so other families and babies can have comfort and joy from bedtime stories like Asher and his family did.

“Grief, I've learned, is really just love. It's all the love you want to give, but cannot. All of that unspent love gathers in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in the hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.” -Jamie Anderson