Gary Lee Luckey

Gary Lee “Big Money” Luckey, of Asheville, NC, entered his heavenly home on Sunday, September 14, 2025. Remembered for his faith, generosity, and joyful presence, Gary lived a life of love, service, and community.

Born November 13, 1955, in McDowell County, he was the son of the late Charles Eugene Luckey and the late Lucille Lytle Luckey. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Jerome Luckey and Charles Luckey, Jr., wife Pamilia Luckey, son Christopher Burgin, and grandson Christian Burgin.

Gary was a member of Catawba View Missionary Baptist Church and formerly of Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church, which has since closed. He sang with the gospel group Brothers in Christ, served proudly in Masonic Lodge 708, and dedicated 35 years to the State of North Carolina as an administrative manager. A die-hard Cleveland Browns fan, Gary found his greatest joy on the golf course.

His legacy lives on in every song he sang, every laugh he shared, and every quiet act of kindness.

He is survived by his former wife Yolanda Smith of Greenville, SC, daughters Natalie Burgin of Marion, Tangela Edmunds of Asheville, and Khadijah Smith of Charlotte, sisters Vivian Freeman of Hawaii and Minnie Sullivan of Asheville, aunts Coretha Lytle of Old Fort and Brenda Stewart of Charlotte, nieces Menesta Williams of Charlotte, Sonja Kahawai of Hawaii, and Danyual Sullivan of Asheville, nephews Dillard Lytle of Seattle, WA, and Craig Sullivan of Marion, nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a host of extended family and friends.

The family offers heartfelt gratitude to DaVita Dialysis for 13 years of exceptional care and compassion.

A Celebration of Life Service to honor Gary Lee Luckey will be held on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 1pm at Catawba View Missionary Baptist Church (141 Albert Joyner Sr. Road, Old Fort, NC). The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at Old Fort City Cemetery (North Cemetery Street, Old Fort, NC 28762). Viewing will be held at Avery’s Memorial Chapel on Monday, September 22, 2025, from 12pm – 7pm.

For those unable to attend in person, the service will be live-streamed beginning at 1pm on Avery’s Memorial Chapel’s Facebook page.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gary Lee Luckey, please visit our floral store.