James Asbury Hunley

James Asbury Hunley was born and raised in Bigwoods, MD on March 22, 1945 to the late Donald R. Hunley and Helen V. Hunley. Bury, as he was affectionately known, received his education in the public schools in Kent County, graduating from Henry Highland Garnet HS in 1964. He gave his life to Christ at Union Methodist Church, Coleman, MD, but later returned to his roots at Fountain Methodist which is now New Christian Chapel of Love United Methodist Church. He served as an usher, Stillpond Coleman Charge Mass Choir, Trustee, Membership Committee, and Administrative Council. He organized the Usher Ministry at St. Daniels UMC, Port Penn, DE. He was employed by the A&P Market, Vita Foods, Chrysler Corporation, Local 199, and the Mason Group. He was the owner of Cofax Construction, but his true passion was catering. Ribs and fried fish were his trademark. As a child, Asbury ran up and down the dirt roads of Bigwoods with his longtime friend Goop and many others. Their favorite game was “walking the footsteps.” He was a great athlete, known for his outstanding basketball and baseball skills. Asbury enjoyed coaching the youth basketball teams and mentoring the youth in the community. Asbury truly loved the Lord. He would get up early in the morning to read his bible and pray. His favorite hymns were, Caribbean Melody, He Touched Me, and, Yes, God is Real. Asbury was united in holy matrimony to Bethsheila Needam on September 11, 2004. Asbury was preceded in death by his father Donald Raymond Hunley, his mother Helen Virginia Hunley, his brother Velma Raymond Hunley and daughter-in-law Denethia Hunley. He leaves to cherish is memory his devoted wife of 11 years, Sheila, a daughter, Dawn Smith (Herman) Chestertown, MD, 2 sons James V. Hunley, Sr., Newark, DE, and Ashton R. Hunley, Chestertown, MD. stepchildren, Cornaz J. Needam Sr., Woodbury, NJ, and Sheba Needam-Thomas (Ryan) Kennedyvillle, MD; 9 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ronald Hunley, District Heights MD; 3 sisters, Flossie Johnson, Bonaire, GA, Emily Acree (Ronald) Middletown, DE, and Joyce Jeffers (Mahlon) Middletown, DE; one aunt Julia Hayes, Fort Lauderdale, FL; sister-in-law Doris Hunley; brothers-in-law Romie Wilson and Allen Johnson; godson Gary Somerville; best friends James and Cheryl Saunders and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Asbury Hunley, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

James Asbury Hunley

March 22, 1945 - August 23, 2016