James H. Kay Jr. DUE WEST -- Rev. James H. Kay Jr. was born December 6, 1936 to the late James and Ethel Kay in Due West, SC. He departed this life on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at Magnolia Manor in Greenwood, SC. Rev. Kay was the husband of the late Mary Jean Kay. Rev. Kay was a 1955 graduate of J.S. Wright High School in Abbeville, SC. He later attended Piedmont Technical College, where he became a certified electrician. Rev. Kay also completed seminary school at Erskine College. He retired from the U.S. postal service after 29 years of service. He was also a an active member of Due West Masonic Lodge No. 100 He was ordained as a minister of the gospel at the age of 26 years old at St. Mary Baptist Church in Due West, SC. He pastored faithfully several churches in Abbeville, Anderson, and Greenwood Counties for over 50 years. Rev. Kay joined St. Peter AME Church in 1999. During his retirement, he served as assistant pastor at St. Peter AME Church. He is preceded in death by a daughter, Ethel Kay Moore, as well as two sisters, Ruth Cunningham and Lucille Kay. He leaves to cherish is memories, three daughters and one son, Betty Carroll of Abbeville, SC, Cheryl Sprowl of Greenwood, SC, Debra (George) Randolph of Camden, SC, and James H. Kay III of Due West, SC. He has seven grandchildren, Deshazo Sprowl, Tiera Sprowl,, Phillip Carroll, Mari Sprowl, Nashari Brown, George Randolph II and Kristen Randolph; f0ive great-grandchildren; three beloved sisters, Edith Cockral, Azalee Cockral, and Mary Reddick, all New York. He will be missed by many nieces, nephew, cousins, and friends. Services are 11 a.m. Saturday, February 20, 2016 at St. Peter AME Church. Burial will be at Oakbrook Memorial Park. The body will be placed in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. to await the hour of service. Public viewing will be Friday, February 19, 2016 at the mortuary from 1-8 p.m. The family is at the home, 389 Bethlehem Church Road, Due West, SC. Professional services by The Abbeville-White Mortuary Inc.
This obituary was originally published in The Index-Journal (Greenwood, SC).
