Asher James DiBernardo

Asher James DiBernardo, 23, of Charleston, SC, passed away on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

Born on December 10, 2001, in Mount Pleasant, SC, Asher is the son of Emily Robinson Poland and Anthony DiBernardo.

Asher James: the most beautiful name meticulously chosen by his dad and I for our son when we found out I was expecting, and though we waited until delivery to know if we were having a boy or girl, we knew and he was perfect. There were paintings in the lobby of the Children’s Ministry floor of the 12 Tribes of Israel, which is where I first saw the name “Asher”, painted with a gorgeous oak tree. In Hebrew, his name means “happy and blessed”. Additionally, in Genesis 49:20, Jacob predicts that Asher’s food will be rich and that he will provide “royal delicacies fit for a king”. Very fitting having a chef as his father. Making his debut eight days earlier than planned, Asher came into this world on his own timing, beating to his own drums and setting the tempo for the greatest showcase of his life.

As a baby, Asher was passed around the ministry center during Sunday morning services at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church with the love and adornment of all our church family. He brought so much joy to everyone with his gentle nature, the most gorgeous blue-green eyes and long eyelashes, and merely being one of God’s most generous blessings. As a toddler, he was enamored with Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, had just about every wooden, metal and plastic versions of these locomotive characters, and created a very independent world of imagery and imagination that he would meld into each day as he played. Asher had his best buddies like Toddie and Peter Stone that he would play with; yet his independence was his sanctuary and he needed nothing more than some dirt and a train to be content.

Fast forward to his preschool and elementary years, we registered him in soccer, t-ball, basketball, baseball, and swim team as a lot of parents do at this age, and boy did Asher give it his all; he didn’t excel or break any records but was content just showing up and being part of the team. He enjoyed going to school at Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary, made friends easily, and was loved by his teachers. Ultimately, Asher was the chunky-monkey, goofy kid who loved playing alone outside with some sticks and cardboard boxes, content in his own adventures and the need for very little. It was also during these younger years that we began observing Asher’s repetitious air drumming and rhythmic tapping more so than wanting to play outdoor sports or do his homework, so his dad enrolled him for his first drum lesson and unleashed the beast within.

Asher’s career as a drummer began at the early age of 12 when he helped form The Muddy Kings, a traditional blues band of incredibly young, talented musicians, which took the Lowcountry by storm playing predominant music venues and special events. From there he took his talents to Jump Castle Riot, being nominated and voted “Blues Act of the Year” for the annual City Paper Music Awards.

He then collaborated with a distinguished group of classmates from his high school, Charleston County School of the Arts, to form Fusion Jonez. These “kids” were a force to be reckoned with writing their own music, selected to play in a scene and background music for Stephen King’s miniseries “Mr. Mercedes”, invitations to play in music festivals and becoming a known band name in Charleston. Once again, Fusion Jonez was nominated and voted “Up-and-Coming Band of the Year” in 2017 then winning “Jazz Band of the Year” and Asher dominating the category for “Drummer of the Year” in 2018. Fusion Jonez would be the music that truly challenged him and honed his skills. Additionally, Asher was selected for the Concert Band his freshman year, Wind Ensemble for all subsequent years as a bassoonist, and was an awarded drummer contributing to the SOA Jazz Band with “All Superior Distinction” from 2017-2020.

As his skills and speed developed, Asher’s appetite for the “hardcore metal” scene grew and his passion ignited a fire in the world of this genre. As one of the premiere drummers of the Lowcountry Hardcore Movement, Asher spread his talents to multiple bands from Savannah to Columbia to include Fire & Flood, Lucille, Julia Legare, just to name a few. It got to where we would question his availability to play with so many, and in good Asher fashion, challenging him fueled his spirit like a wildfire.

Asher has always had a loyalty and an unconditional love that surpasses that of anyone we have ever known; so much that when the Coroner called to give the preliminary autopsy report, his first words to me were “he died with a big heart”...of course he did. He stopped in mid-sentence and stride to shake hands and thank anyone who wore a hat or shirt that represented their service to our country. He would meet and greet anyone with the most genuine interest and kindness, fully expressed with the most beautiful smile and energy. If you came into his dad’s restaurant to enjoy the best smoked meats and lowcountry sides, he would come out from behind the line at Swig and Swine to hug anyone he knew. He disliked no one. He forgave wholeheartedly. He loved fiercely.

Asher will forever be remembered with an abundance of memories intrinsically to anyone who knew him and will always be our guardian angel. He died happy, the happiest he has been since his accident, with a peace and contentment for the life he sustained. I ask that we all join in the imagery when you hear thunder and it rains…this will be our boy beating on his drums and sweating his heart out to never be forgotten.

Asher is preceded in death by his grandmother, Patricia DiBernardo.

Asher is survived by his mother, Emily Poland; father, Anthony DiBernardo; sisters: Mia DiBernardo, Ellisyn Poland and Ashley Poland; grandmother, Sheila Shepherd; and his grandfathers, Anthony DiBernardo Sr. and James Robinson Jr..

The family will receive friends on Sunday, March 30, 2025, from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home - West Ashley.

A celebration of Asher's life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Ronald McDonald House of Charleston.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, (843) 722-8371.