Cory was born May 19, 1951, in Cleveland, the son of Charles and Wynetta Stewart Ashley. He died in Solon, a suburb of Cleveland, on October 17, 1993, at the age of 42. He attended Shaker Heights High School. He attended college for four years, two of which were at Ohio Wesleyan. He had one brother, Lavalle Ashley. Cory worked with his father to manage three successful Cleveland restaurants called the Original Shrimp Boats. He was listed in Who’s Who among Black Americans, 3^rd edition, 1981.