Liza Ashley

Eliza Jane Burnett Dodson Ashley, or best known as Liza Ashley, (October 11, 1917 – November 13, 2020) was an American cook and author. She was the executive chef at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion from 1956 to 1990. She authored the cookbook Thirty Years at the Mansion in 1985.

Early life Eliza Jane Burnett was born on the Oldham Plantation in Pettus, Arkansas

Early in her life, Burnett became a Baptist. While in Pettus, she attended St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Her grandmother was the head cook at Oldham Plantation. She taught Burnett how to cook. When her grandmother died, Burnett became head cook. In 1933, she married Calvin Dodson. The couple left Oldham Plantation in 1942, moving to Little Rock, Arkansas.

Later life and legacy

In 1994, North Little Rock declared August 25 "Liza Ashley Day". She was named "Countess of Pulaski" of Pulaski County, Arkansas in 1997.

She was active in the Sunshine Charity Club, a volunteer for the American Legion and also volunteered at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock. At Canaan, she attended Bible study every Sunday through her time in Little Rock.

After she turned ninety, she moved to Los Angeles, California. She died in Norwalk, California on November 13, 2020. She is buried at Little Rock National Cemetery.