Roy Burchfield

Roy Burchfield, a resident of Asheville for almost 40 years and former manager of the J.C. Penney department store in downtown Asheville, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2016. He was 87. Burchfield was born September 30, 1928, in Speedwell, Tennessee. While still in high school, he began working in the stock room at the J.C. Penney store in Middlesboro, Kentucky. He graduated from Middlesboro High School, where he was president of his high school senior class, and in 1951, graduated from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. On March 9, 1951, he married Anna Lee McCreary, and remained married and in love with her throughout his life. From 1951 through 1953, he served in the United States Army, and was stationed in West Germany with the NATO force. Upon his honorable discharge, Burchfield returned to Middlesboro and rejoined Penney's. He worked with the company for his entire career, steadily rising to become manager of stores in Concord, Lumberton, High Point, and finally Asheville, where he retired in 1988. To the end of his life, he recalled fondly the many colleagues from his days at Penney's and was especially proud of the 16 people who worked under him who progressed to positions with Penney's of store manager or higher. As assistant manager of the Johnson City, Tennessee, Penney store, he became the first main street merchant in that city to hire an African American for a customer facing position. A loyal member of First Baptist Church of Asheville since 1977, he served in many roles, including Deacon and Life Deacon, Chair of the Finance Committee, and for 27 years as Sunday School Department Chair. Community service was a large part of his life. He served as President of the High Point Merchants Association, which named him "Man of the Year" in 1973, and as President of the Asheville Merchants Association from 1986 to 1987. In 2003, the Civitan Club of Asheville recognized him as a Medallion Member for 25 years of service. He enjoyed gardening, golf, and especially spending time with his family and friends. Burchfield is survived by his wife of 65 years, Anna Lee Burchfield of Asheville, his daughter Brenda Burchfield Kale of Winston-Salem, his son Bobby Roy Burchfield of McLean, Virginia, three granddaughters, two great granddaughters, a sister Loris Jean (Charles) Thacker of Crystal Lake, Illinois, and a host of other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents William Martin and Vietta Cooper Burchfield, by a brother Earl Burchfield and a sister Elizabeth Burchfield Hill. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 26 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, 72 Long Shoals Road, Arden, NC 28704. On Saturday, August 27, at the First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801, the family will receive friends from 9:30 am to 10:45 am, followed by a celebration of Roy Burchfield's life at 11:00 am. Burial will follow the service at Green Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Burchfield's name to the First Baptist Church of Asheville.