July 11, 2022; Mississippi Today: Man indicted in killing of former lawmaker Ashley Henley
A man has been indicted for the murder of former DeSoto County lawmaker Ashley Henley a year after she was shot and killed.
Billy Lamar Brooks was indicted by a grand jury on June 30, according to court records. The indictment accuses him of killing Henley on or about June 14, 2021, which authorities said is the day after her body was found.
A man has been indicted for the murder of former DeSoto County lawmaker Ashley Henley a year after she was shot and killed.
Billy Lamar Brooks was indicted by a grand jury on June 30, according to court records. The indictment accuses him of killing Henley on or about June 14, 2021, which authorities said is the day after her body was found.
Nov 6, 2019: Commercial Appeal: Mississippi elections: Here's who won in DeSoto County, statewide races
State House of Representatives District 40: Democrat Hester Jackson McCray looks to have narrowly unseated incumbent Republican Rep. Ashley Henley by 13 votes, according to unofficial election results.
State House of Representatives District 40: Democrat Hester Jackson McCray looks to have narrowly unseated incumbent Republican Rep. Ashley Henley by 13 votes, according to unofficial election results.
Jan 15, 2016: DeSoto Times-Tribune: Standstill at Capitol
State Rep. Ashley Henley, R-Horn Lake, said she is still learning the ropes in the legislative process."We've been very thorough adhering to the rules," Henley said. "I've appreciated that." The former DeSoto County School teacher was forced to resign her teaching job due to state law which prohibits legislators from holding jobs in which they receive pay appropriated from state lawmakers.
State Rep. Ashley Henley, R-Horn Lake, said she is still learning the ropes in the legislative process."We've been very thorough adhering to the rules," Henley said. "I've appreciated that." The former DeSoto County School teacher was forced to resign her teaching job due to state law which prohibits legislators from holding jobs in which they receive pay appropriated from state lawmakers.
Sept 24, 2015: Mississippi PEP: Callen defends Empower Mississippi campaign tactics to defeat Desoto legislators.
New representation from DeSoto County will come to Jackson in the next legislative session that starts in January. Dana Criswell, Steve Hopkins and Ashley Henley replaced the group that had become a major force in Mississippi government. |
July 4, 2015: Clarion Ledger: Challengers face Republican incumbents in DeSoto County
But his challenger, schoolteacher Ashley Henley, said Gunn’s endorsement is just more proof of how Nelson has lost touch with his district.
But his challenger, schoolteacher Ashley Henley, said Gunn’s endorsement is just more proof of how Nelson has lost touch with his district.

Ashley Henley is a Republican member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing District 40. She was first elected to the chamber in 2015.
While working on her graduate studies, Ashley was selected as the James Madison Fellow for the state of Mississippi, winning the only fellowship awarded in the state in 2004. During her time in the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Program, she completed a summer residency in Washington, D.C. at Georgetown University, where she studied Constitutional History and earned recognition as Teacher-Scholar of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Throughout her high school years, beginning at age 15, and continuing through her college years, Ashley worked as a projectionist, first at Southaven Cinema on Stateline Road and then at Malco DeSoto in Southaven. She maintained employment in the theaters from 1996 to 2008. Even after beginning her teaching career with DeSoto County Schools in 2002, she continued to work full-time during the day and part-time at night while attending graduate school. The extra income from the theater job allowed her to pay for graduate school and send care packages to her husband, Brandon, who was serving in Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard. Currently, in addition to working full-time as a teacher at Walls Elementary, Ashley is in her fifth year as an Adjunct American History Instructor teaching evening classes at Northwest Mississippi Community College.
While working on her graduate studies, Ashley was selected as the James Madison Fellow for the state of Mississippi, winning the only fellowship awarded in the state in 2004. During her time in the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Program, she completed a summer residency in Washington, D.C. at Georgetown University, where she studied Constitutional History and earned recognition as Teacher-Scholar of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Throughout her high school years, beginning at age 15, and continuing through her college years, Ashley worked as a projectionist, first at Southaven Cinema on Stateline Road and then at Malco DeSoto in Southaven. She maintained employment in the theaters from 1996 to 2008. Even after beginning her teaching career with DeSoto County Schools in 2002, she continued to work full-time during the day and part-time at night while attending graduate school. The extra income from the theater job allowed her to pay for graduate school and send care packages to her husband, Brandon, who was serving in Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard. Currently, in addition to working full-time as a teacher at Walls Elementary, Ashley is in her fifth year as an Adjunct American History Instructor teaching evening classes at Northwest Mississippi Community College.