Jeremy Burnette, an Atlanta attorney who operates the Miss Gay Georgia USofA pageant, met Kruiz 14 years ago. Known for her enjoyable personality, Ashley was affectionately known as the “Sweetheart of the South.” Ashley Kruiz made friends wherever he went, and his successful female impersonation career allowed him to travel and make friends around the country. He volunteered his time, talents, and tips to many charities and benefit shows for fellow female impersonators who were preparing for pageants or needing help with medical bills. He was perfectionist in his craft, kind-hearted, and generous. A few of his favorites included Miss Gay Georgia USofA, Miss Georgia Continental, Miss Renaissance, Miss Hotlanta International, and Miss Gay National.”Īshley appeared on the national talk shows ”The Phil Donahue Show,” “Jenny Jones,” and “Maury.” Throughout his long career in female impersonation, Ashley was a gay activist and raised money for numerous charities and PWA funds.Īshley was an entertainer’s entertainer. Known to many as the ultimate pageant queen, Ashley won numerous titles (too many to list or count). Most recently, Ashley was the Entertainment Director at Burkhart’s. Ashley appeared at The new Metro, Blake’s on the Park, and WetBar. Ashley was also a famed performer at the internationally famous Charlie Brown’s Cabaret for several years. She was one of the original “Funky Diva’s” at the Armory. In 1989, Ashley moved to Atlanta and was quickly hired onto the cast of Lipstix, where “Atlanta’s most beautiful women just happened to be men.” Ashley also worked in multiple Atlanta clubs, including LaVita’s, the Metro, the Gallus, Deana’s One More Time, and Crazy Ray’s. In 1987 Ashley moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to attend Roy’s of Louisville Beauty Academy for cosmetology and was hired to perform at the “New Club Downtowner.” He began his full-time career as a female impersonator there in the cast of “La Boy La Femme.”Īshley worked at he Discovery Nightclub and the Connection in Louisville and the Bar Complex and Great Moments in Lexington, Kentucky. She was also Miss Gay Cobb County 2012.įrom the Burkhart’s website, a biography of Kruiz states Kruiz was created in 1984 under the tutelage of her drag mother, Chelsea Pearl. She was also Florida Regional Entertainer of the Year 2012, winning the title in July. Kruiz was entertainment director at Burkhart’s, according to her Facebook page that is now flooded with tributes. “It was the best move for her career we could have done. After about a year they moved to Atlanta. In 1988, Johnson moved in with Kasey in Louisville. “Gary is one of the kindest most caring people in the entire world. Then in a non-bar setting I got to be friends with Gary,” Kasey said. People introduced us and we clicked immediately. Kasey met Gary Johnson when he was performing as Ashley Kruiz in the early 1980s in Kentucky. Atlanta came forward and I’m proud of them, every single person. It showed me how much our community really cared and really cares. Entertainers from all over the state came. “Our community came out and came out with a bang,” Kasey said. View photos of the event at Project Q Atlanta. She praised Atlanta’s community for coming together on April 3 at Burkhart’s for a celebration of Kruiz’s life. “I just keep waiting for her to pop through the door, but she doesn’t pop,” Kasey said, her voice choking up. Throughout the interview, Kasey used both male and female pronouns when referring to Kruiz. Kasey and Kruiz lived together in a platonic relationship for some 25 years. “I held his hand and told him to just let go, that it will be OK, and he took his last breath,” Kasey said in an interview. His best friend and life partner was at his side at Grady Hospital when he died on Easter Sunday. Kruiz was born Gary Dale Johnson on April 30, 1965, in Frankfort, Ky. Ashley Kruiz, a renowned drag star who held numerous pageant titles, died March 31, 2013, in Atlanta after a long illness.
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