June Causey Obituary

June H. Causey, 70, a beloved mother and the bride of James T. Causey, Jr., having fought the good fight, made her Heavenly entrance into the place that He, her Lord and Savior, promised He would prepare for her on Friday, September 10, 2021.

Mrs. Causey was born the daughter of the late George W. Howell, Jr. and Letty Mae Haselden Howell on May 5, 1951 in Georgetown. She was a 1969 graduate of Winyah High School and was a retired employee of Santee Cooper. She was born into a musical family. As soon as she could sit up fairly well, she sat next to her mom on the piano bench. Daddy told her Mama to watch her when she was about 15 months, because she was clapping in rhythm. When she turned 2, she started singing in church. When she turned eight, she began taking piano lessons from Nita Stokes at Duncan Methodist Church. She took from her for 9 years, till June was 17. She received a full scholarship to Furman University at that time, planning to pursue piano performance major. However, some Elvis-looking dude asked her to marry him, and that was the end of that!

When she and Jim moved to Albuquerque, NM with the Air Force, they became heavily involved in an Assemblies of God Church with about 400 members. They sang in the choir, and she began doing a lot of solos. Her range was pretty high then, and the choir director would always point at her towards the end of a song with his thumb up and want her to take it up as high as she could. We also became involved with an ensemble from the church called, Power, Love and Sound Mind. They were sort of hippie-ish, sang in different kinds of churches, including Catholic. She also became part of a sign language choir, led by a girl who was deaf from birth. She learned quite a bit of sign language and how expressive it could be for songs, which she later used in talent dramas.

When they moved back home, they became heavily involved in Georgetown Pentecostal Holiness Church's music. Eventually, she and Jim took over from her parent's jobs of choir director and pianist. She conducted quite a few cantatas, along with children's programs. Mrs. Pearline Driggers introduced her to handbells, and she was hooked. She started helping children with competing in the National Talent Program of the IPHC and never looked back.

She began entering students in every category, from handbells to dramas to instrumentals to art to solos, vocal ensembles and choirs. When her son got older, she formed a church orchestra with him and his friends in the church. There were quite a few the same age. There was a trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, trombone and flute, sometimes more than one per instrument. They used some of the expressiveness of sign language to create really moving silent dramas. During Jared's high school years, she was privileged to play for his high school choir several times. One of those occasions was at The Carolina Opry. Jared also began performing during middle school with The Junior Long Bay Symphony, and was asked to play several different instruments with them from keyboard to piano to marimba to bass drum.

June, a lifelong resident and member of this community, has been instrumental in the evolving success of several of the county's great musical programs. Her contributions and accomplishments included but is not limited to piano accompanist, choral directing, handbells, piano teacher, vocal coaching and training, and renown soloist. Most local musical organizations have been influenced and impacted by this southern lady with the passionate, gifted, and soul soothing voice that reached the highest of soprano limits and flowed to the purest of an alto smoothness. Of all her musical success, when June stood and delivered a Christian musical selection whether classical, Southern Gospel, Spiritual, or Contemporary, it is no question that her faith in God and walk with Christ was fully resolved and confirmed by the Holy Spirit which flowed through her anointed voice leaving every hearer moved by God's presence. Over the years, she was asked to fill in for the pianists at several churches. She was also honored to sing in The Singing Christmas Tree at First Baptist Church of Georgetown. She and Jim attended the First Assembly of God for several years, where they became Praise and Worship leaders and directed several cantatas. For over 15 years, she has been singing with Indigo Choral Society. And also for over 10 years, she has been a part of C-4 - Carolina's Coastal Campmeeting Choir. And in her own words, "God has blessed me abundantly, and I thank Him for every day I've been able to use the gifts He gave me."

June married the love of her life, Jim, on June 22, 1969 celebrated 52 years together. Their home was blessed with: a son, Jared A. Causey (Cherrel); and two grandchildren, Alyssa L. Causey and James A. Causey.

She is also survived by: her mother, Letty Mae; and her extended family, Sylvia McConnell (Bobby), Sue Douglas (Jimmy), Jerry Causey (Melody), and Sheryl Graham (Alan); and a large number of nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by: her father, George W. Howell, Jr.; and her in-laws, Theo and Doris Causey.

A Home Going Celebration will be 6PM, Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at Georgetown Pentecostal Holiness Church. Officiating will be Kirk McConnell.

The Causey family will receive family and friends immediately after the service in the church sanctuary.

Memorial may be made to the C4 Choir, PO Box 182, Georgetown, SC 29442, and Indigo Choral Society, PO Box 394, Georgetown, SC 29442.

Due to Covid-19, the family asks that everyone please practice social distancing and facemasks are requested.

McKenzie Funeral Home is honored to serve the Causey family.