About Camel City Mahjong

Camel City Mahjong was founded in 2024 by a mother-daughter team with a lifelong love of the game. What began around the table with friends has grown into a welcoming mahjong community in Winston-Salem and the surrounding Triad.

Through lessons, events, and league play, Camel City Mahjong creates thoughtful spaces where players of all levels can learn, connect, and enjoy the tradition of mahjong together.

OUR STORY

How Camel City Mahjong Came to Be

Decades ago, Libby first learned to play mahjong and played often with friends in a small North Carolina town. She later taught her daughter, Ashley, the game.

What started as a shared family pastime became something more in 2023 when they began playing regularly again and introducing friends to the game. As interest grew, so did the vision to create Camel City Mahjong as a way to share their passion with the wider community.

Ashley later received formal teacher training from Molly Hardy, also known as Mahjong Molly, in Dallas and became an official Ambassador for The Mahjong Line, incorporating their beautiful tile sets into lessons and events.

Since launching, Camel City Mahjong has taught more than 1,000 students across the Triad through lessons, private events, corporate gatherings, fundraisers, and leagues.

Meet Ashley

Ashley founded Camel City Mahjong alongside her mother, Libby, blending a lifelong love of the game with a passion for building community.

Having learned mahjong as a child, Ashley reintroduced the game to friends just as it began gaining popularity in Winston-Salem. When she started hearing “mahjong” buzzing around town, she thought, “Hey, I know how to play that game!”

Ashley began hosting regular games at home and quickly found herself at the center of a growing community of players eager to learn and connect. While Ashley loves the strategy and beauty of the game itself, what she enjoys most is bringing people together and watching friendships form across the table.

A Winston-Salem resident for nearly 30 years, Ashley is proud to see the mahjong community growing in Camel City. When she’s not teaching lessons or hosting events, she enjoys spending time with her husband Dan and their two beloved doodles, and visiting her college-aged sons, Owen and Wyatt. She’s always up for a fun trip with family and friends.

About Our Team

Libby Trull

The “OG” teacher behind Camel City Mahjong, Libby has shared her lifelong love of the game with Ashley—and countless friends over the years.

A true mahjong purist who follows American Mahjong rules, Libby brings a fun, gentle, and deeply knowledgeable approach to every lesson. Her warmth, patience, and passion for the game have made her a beloved instructor among the many students she has taught.

It’s hard to keep up with Libby when she’s away from the mahjong table. She stays busy spending time with her husband, Mike, and their dog, Brass, taking French classes, diving into her book club reads, and enjoying the local arts scene around town.

Christian Dew

Christian joined Camel City Mahjong after several years of playing and quickly became known for her lightning-fast play. Expect to get through multiple games when Christian is at your table. She brings her knowledge of the game and her enthusiasm to every lesson.

Christian has been in the Winston-Salem community for nearly 30 years. When she’s not playing mahjong, she’s spending time with her husband, her three grown children, and two dogs. She also loves travel, reading, and cooking.

Sarah Absher

Sarah learned mahjong in a group lesson with Ashley and Libby before joining the league, where she quickly became one of the most confident and advanced players.

Known for having the card practically memorized, Sarah brings strong game knowledge and thoughtful strategy tips to every lesson.

When she’s not at the mahjong table, Sarah works as a registered nurse at Forsyth Medical Center or spends time on the greenway. She’s also a wife and proud mom to two college-aged stepchildren.

Elizabeth Faullin

Elizabeth has been playing mahjong for several years and has immersed herself in the broader mahjong community across the U.S.

She has attended seminars, workshops, and tournaments, and is eager to share that knowledge and experience with her students.

Elizabeth’s husband is a professor at Wake Forest University, and she has two sons living their best adult lives—one in North Wilkesboro and the other in Chicago.

Lucky the cat and her two chickens, Lily and Rose—affectionately known as “The Garden Girls” keep her company in Winston-Salem.

Katherine McPherson

Katherine fell in love with mahjong after just one lesson and quickly mastered the core concepts, even entering a tournament within a few months of play. Her calm, steady approach puts students at ease and builds confidence from the very first lesson.

She and her husband both work as anesthesiologists at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. When she’s not playing mahjong, she stays busy with her two toddlers and a labradoodle.

Amii Steele

Amii loves all things mahjong. A strong player with a deep understanding of the game, she especially appreciates the artistry of The Mahjong Line tile sets.

She became hooked after just one lesson and continues to play regularly. She’s excited to share her love of the game with her students.

When she’s not at the table, Amii is a wife, a mom of two, and works as a pediatric psychologist.