ABAC remembers Turner Causey

Turner Reid Causey passed away on Nov. 16 at the age of 19. He was a freshman at ABAC who majored in agribusiness, but in his own time, he was so much more.

Turner was born on Oct. 12, 2006. He was a very outgoing young man with an extremely bright personality, always stepping in to help his family and friends. Care and compassion were two of his biggest strengths, and he shared them regardless of who it was that needed them most. “He just didn’t care about material things,” said his mother, Lee Causey, “he just wanted to make sure everyone was okay. He was pretty much against any injustice against anybody.” His father, David, said, “He didn’t like for people to put other people down or anything like that.”

Throughout his life, Turner liked to stay busy in a myriad of ways. In terms of athletics, he played three different sports growing up: basketball, baseball (catcher and third base), and football (quarterback, wide receiver, and cornerback). When he wasn’t playing competitive sports, Turner loved to stay in shape and even tried to inspire others to join in. His exercises included activities like working out, running, and he even practiced boxing. Turner also had a love for everything related to cars. “He enjoyed doing paint and body work,” said Lee. He was the proud owner of both a 1987 IROC and his grandfather’s 1993 IROC Z28, maintaining their conditions to the fullest.

American history was a subject that resonated with him, as well. Turner had a passion for learning and seeing historical sites, especially revolving around wars and presidents, and was always eager to teach others facts they might not have known. He was also an extremely talented self-taught drummer and a certified lifeguard.

Additionally, he was a proud member of his church. “In the summer, I would always teach vocational bible school, and he would come and help and play with the kids,” Lee said.

When it came to the outdoors, Turner found enjoyment in nature. He was an avid hunter with his two older brothers, Camden and Dawson, liked to visit the beach, and loved to fish in ponds around his family’s farm.

David claimed that witnessing Turner’s involvement with their farm was one of the most memorable ways that he watched him grow. He assisted the farm in multiple ways, like helping to move food plots and the excessive amount of effort he sunk into keeping the area clean.

In the field of his major, Turner worked for the University of Georgia’s cotton entomology team. Lee said, “He just really enjoyed going out to the farms and checking the cotton.”

Most importantly, Turner was part of the team that discovered the jassid insects that have caused problems in local cotton fields. He saw this as one of his biggest achievements. Lee recalled, “He was always excited when he would see different articles come out about the jassid and he would be like, ‘Can you believe I was part of the group that found those?’”

In his life, Turner Causey was an exceptional, kind-hearted individual that everybody would want to be around. His character shined brightly,
leaving a great impact on his friends and family. “He worked hard, he played hard, and he was just a really humble person,” said Lee.

Please keep Turner’s family and friends in your thoughts. As a reminder, the ABAC Counseling Center offers grief counseling and emotional support free for all students during this difficult time.

Students can access free teletherapy sessions through UWill, by calling 833-646-1526. Students can also reach out to ABAC’s counselors, Shuba Chatterjee and Phyllis Jeter, by contacting them at schatterjee@abac.edu and phyllis.jeter@abac.edu.