Hines V. Causey, Sr.

Hines V. Causey Sr, 90, of Macon, answered God’s call to heaven Thursday, April 14, 2022.

Son of the late Arthur Leven and Flossie Sauls Causey, Hines attended John W. Burke Elementary School and graduated from Lanier High School in 1949, where he played football on two state championship teams. Hines was singing by the age of six, but he stammered, so his parents sent him to Martin Hall Institute of Speech Disorders in Rhode Island. His confidence soared and he began singing professionally at 17 and has sung at over 10,000 weddings and funerals. He worked at the Central of Georgia Railroad, while singing part-time at Hart’s Mortuary on Cherry Street. He auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera and for Guy Lombardo’s Orchestra, but he never wanted to live anywhere but Macon. He started Hines Causey Combo and played all over the southeast for 50 years.

In 1965, Hines leveraged his affiliation with weddings and funerals by opening a formal wear business on Mulberry Street called House of Hines. He lost everything in a fire in 1977 but reopened in 1978 in the landmark house on Vineville Ave. House of Hines is a local institution, and Hines’ voice was legendary.

Hines married Bettie Sikes Strickland April 16, 1978, and they were members of Mulberry Street United Methodist Church. He was a member of several organizations including the Royal Order of the Jesters. He was a Blue Lodge Mason, a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Shriner, and a longtime member of the Macon Touchdown Club. He was a founding member of the Macon Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America.

Hines was preceded in death by his son, Jan Scott Causey, stepdaughter, Donna Payne Poff, sister, Carolyn Scoby, and former wife, Kitty Kelly Walker.

Hines is survived by his wife of 44 years, Bettie Sikes Causey of Macon; children, Vann Causey (Judy) and Chris Causey (Dawn), both of Cumming, Georgia, Craig Payne of Juliette, Georgia, Joette Strickland Bell of Macon, Lee Strickland Woolbright (John) of Columbus, Georgia, and Todd Strickland of Macon; daughters-in-law, Wendy Causey and Miki Fluker; son-in-law, Tim Poff; grandchildren, Elizabeth Causey, Blake Causey (Eric), Levin Causey, Summer Causey Williams (Joe), Jan Scott Causey Jr., Sarah Beth Causey Hollowed (Jimmy), Sanders Poff, Brittany Payne Cole (John), Brooklyn Payne Shelton (Luke), Taylor Payne Lord (Eric), Matthew Bell (Robyn), Michael Bell, Jack Woolbright, Amanda Woolbright, Joshua Woolbright, and Eden Strickland; and 9 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church with the Reverends Creede Hinshaw and Tommy Martin officiating. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service in the fellowship hall. Entombment will be held at Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Mulberry St. UMC, 719 Mulberry St., Macon, GA 31201 or The Methodist Home for Children & Youth 304 Pierce Ave, Macon GA 31204.

Hart’s on Cherry Street, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 765 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201 has charge of the arrangements.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

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