Lionel Lackey Obituary

Dr. Lionel Carson Lackey JAMES ISLAND - Dr. Lionel Carson Lackey, 76, of James Island, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 22, 2016, surrounded by people who loved him. The relatives and friends of Dr. Lionel Carson Lackey are invited to attend his Funeral Service at 10:00 AM, Friday, August 26, 2016, at Bethany United Methodist Church. The burial will follow at Live Oak Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends between 6:00 and 8:00 PM, Thursday evening at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Hwy. Online condolences may be made at www.CharlestonFunerals.com. Lionel was born in Miami, Florida, on August 5, 1940. He was a son of the late Lionel C. and Doris S. Lackey. At the age of 6, he and his mother moved home to Charleston, South Carolina. He attended Riverland Terrace School and was a 1958 graduate of James Island High School, where he was a member of the Beta Club. Lionel wrote the words and music to the James Island Alma Mater and wrote his senior class play. He received a B.S. degree from the College of Charleston in 1961 and went on to receive his Master of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1964. He later achieved a Ph.D. in English. He began his career teaching high school English and later retired as a professor of English at Charleston Southern University. Lionel was a gifted writer and musician, and his passion was composing classical music and writing poetry and operas. He was a member of Bethany United Methodist Church of James Island where he once was the music director and enjoyed singing in the choir. Lionel is survived by his cousins, Mary H. Sayas, Gina K. Cannella, Curtis D. Fochtman, Richard H.Speight and his wife, Barbara, Kitty S. Pentecost and her husband, Mike, Nancy J. Speight and William W. Speight and his wife Jill. He is also survived by his very special friends (family), C. Kirk Cargile and his wife, Janice, as well as Brad and Yancey Cargile. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethany United Methodist Church Music Program, 1853 Maybank Hwy, Charleston, SC 29412. Arrangements by James A. McAlister, Inc. 766-1365. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston