Our story began in 1944 and continues to the present day. The Asbury congregation was originally made up of several families native to New Market, including the Steptoes (James Royal Sr. and his wife Katie), the Durretts (Harry Sr. and his wife Juanita), the Rankins (James and his wife Evelyn), and the Veneys (Charles and his wife Evelyn).

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Mr. Steptoe took on the responsibility of managing the Sunday School for the church. In the summer of 1944, he initiated the tradition of an annual summer picnic. Originally held at his home on the third Sunday in August, this event grew in size over the years. It became a time when families gathered, many returning to New Market specifically for the occasion. The event included fun trips, such as bus excursions to Sherando Lake in Waynesboro, VA, and the Lake Side Amusement Park in Roanoke.

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As the years went by, with the merger of Asbury into Manor Memorial and families moving away from New Market, the picnic evolved.