Beatrice Cunningham Ashley, 98, died Monday, December 8, 2025 after a short illness. Beatrice was born in Norfolk, Virginia and graduated from Norview High School. She landed a job right after graduation with the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority and later worked at the Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority where she retired in 1995 as Manager of Section 8 Housing Program for the City of Hampton.

Bea married Jim Ashley in 1964. They lived in Norfolk initially but moved to Hampton to begin new careers.  Over the years Jim and Bea traveled extensively, visiting much of the globe. Bea was adventurous and outgoing and got to ride a camel in Egypt, fed apes by hand in China, rode a horse bareback in South America, went parasailing in Italy and found distant relatives in Ireland.

Bea and Jim were dedicated members of First United Methodist Church in Hampton for over 45 years where Bea helped establish the Circle 9 women's church group along with her involvement with many community outreach programs and missionary services.

Survivors include son David Ashley and wife Kathy of Portsmouth, VA and their daughters, Meagan Ashley and Elizabeth Holmes; daughter Nancy Johnson and husband Edward of Hampton, VA and their daughter Michelle Wesdock;  granddaughters Melissa Foster and Jennifer Chambers;  niece Amy Hutcheson and husband David of Virginia Beach and their sons Sam and James Hutcheson; nephew Stephen Cunningham and wife Krissy and their daughters Riley, Bianca and Gabriella of Virginia Beach; niece Margaret Daniels and husband Ian of London, England and their son Peter Daniels and daughter Morgan Daniels;  nephew John Cunningham and wife Kristen of Tampa, Florida and close family friend Christopher Ekornes.  Preceded in death are Bea's husband James Ashley and their daughters Susan Strusa and Cindy Truitt and grandson David Johnson.

A funeral service will be held Monday, December 22, 2025 at 11:00 am at R. Hayden Funeral Home located at 245 South Armstead Avenue, Hampton, Virginia .