Dr. Steven Lee Cooksey

Dr. Steven Lee Cooksey passed away at the age of 83 on Monday, March 10, 2025, while in Hospice Care at the Village at Orchard Ridge in Winchester, VA. He was born May 2, 1941, in Evansville, IN to the late Clarence and Alice (Swope) Cooksey. He began playing the organ at an early age, and before he finished high school, he was playing in churches in his hometown and the surrounding communities.
He began his college studies in Evansville and earned a B.M.E from Evansville College. He obtained an M.M. degree from Syracuse University; and went on to earn a Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. Although his teaching career began in public schools in Illinois, he spent the majority of his career as a Professor of Organ Performance and Church Music at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester from 1972 to 2014. While he was teaching there, he also earned an M.B.A. from Shenandoah University.
Along with instructing his organ students, his other areas of expertise were Church Music, Music History, and Conducting. He was the founder of Shenandoah's Church Music Institute which was influential in helping church musicians plan and coordinate music and liturgy for worship. He also coordinated performances of Lessons and Carols during the Christmas season. Dr. Cooksey was also especially fond of Baroque music and was the founder, director and organizer of the Bach-Handel Festivals for many years. He also had the opportunity to tour Europe many times with other Shenandoah Conservatory colleagues the Shenandoah Conservatory Choir. During these tours, he was fortunate to play the organ in many of the great cathedrals in Europe while accompanying where the choir performed.
In addition to his professorship at Shenandoah Conservatory, he held the position of Music Director for several churches in Winchester. For the past 42 and a half years, he served as Organist and Choir Master at St. James' Episcopal Church in Leesburg, VA. During this time, he played and conducted for Sunday church services, weddings, and funerals, organized outstanding soloists, and collaborated with other church musicians in the area to produce joint music events. Additionally, he was instrumental in having St. James' host musical offerings by performers from both the US and abroad. Because of his association with Shenandoah University, St. James' was fortunate to have guest musicians accompany the choir during worship services over the years.
Dr. Cooksey was also actively involved in the local chapter of The American Guild of Organists. Initially inactive, Dr. Cooksey was instrumental in reinvigorating the small chapter the year that he came to Winchester. He used his connections to bring top-quality and well-known guest artists to play for his colleagues. Many of the organists had been Dr. Cooksey's students with whom he maintained both a personal and professional relationship.
In recent years Dr. Cooksey was also involved in organizing monthly musical offerings in the Chapel at The Village at Orchard Ridge in Winchester. His programming would involve timely themes such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, patriotic-themed performances, and collaborative works combining other instruments with the organ. Colleagues from the Music Conservatory at Shenandoah University, fellow organists from the Organ Guild, as well as Music Students from SU Conservatory were frequently among the featured musicians for these programs.
Along with his parents, Dr. Cooksey was predeceased by his two brothers, Ralph "Ken" Cooksey of Grayslake, IL, and Randal Dean Cooksey of Peoria, IL. Family survivors include Leslie Cooksey, (Ken's wife), Jean Cooksey and Denise Bernhard, (Randy's wife). Also surviving are the children of Ken and Randal: Jim Cooksey, Mary Jette (Cooksey) and Ann Marie Stratton (Cooksey), David (Amanda) Cooksey, Gwen (Ben) Dowell, Matthew (Anoosh) Cooksey, and Sara (Joshua) Jakubowski as well as many great nieces and great nephews. He will also be greatly missed by the staff and parishioners at St. James' Episcopal Church in Leesburg, and his many musical friends from Shenandoah University and the Winchester Chapter of the AGO.
Known for his kindness and consideration of others, Dr. Cooksey's academic excellence, and his endless energy in planning beautiful performances was only matched by his humility and generosity.
A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, May 10th, 2025, at St. James' Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall St. NW, in Leesburg, VA. A musical prelude will begin at 12:30 followed by a Celebration of Life Service. Immediately following the church service, there will be a reception in the Parish Hall.
Dr. Cooksey's requested that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to the Organ Fund at St. James' Episcopal Church. Please note the church office address is 8 Cornwall St. NW, Leesburg, VA 20176.