Reverend Irvin Richard Summey passed away on Friday, August 28, 2026.

Richard was born on August 30, 1953, in Walterboro, South Carolina, to the late Raymond L. Summey and Myrtis Thomas Summey.

He graduated from Goose Creek High School in 1971 and attended Baptist College, where he majored in Church Music and minored in Psychology. He later earned a master’s degree in Special Education from The Citadel.

Throughout his career, Richard taught piano and voice, taught special education, worked as a consultant with Charleston County Schools, and served as a supervisor at the Coastal Center in Ladson, South Carolina.

Music and ministry were central to Richard’s life. He served in music ministry at several churches throughout the Charleston area, including Hillcrest Baptist Church, Bedon Baptist Church, Knightsville United Methodist Church, and Holmes Avenue Baptist Church. He also sang with the Charleston Choral Society and the Charleston Opera Company.

In 2007, while serving at Holmes Avenue Baptist Church, Richard founded RIC — Recovery in Christ. In 2009, he began serving at Folly Beach Baptist Church as Minister of Music and carried the Recovery in Christ ministry with him. In 2011, he transitioned into full-time ministry, serving as Pastor and Minister of Music. He retired as pastor in 2023, continued serving for a short time as Minister of Music, and later fully retired due to Parkinson’s disease.

Richard gave his whole heart to the people around him, no matter what he was doing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond L. Summey and Myrtis Thomas Summey; his sister, Gale Price; and her husband, Bob Price.

Richard is survived by his beloved wife of 21 years, Deborah Byrd Summey; his stepsons, Randall Chad Horne and his wife, Sharon, of Graniteville, South Carolina, and Chandler Brett Horne of Goose Creek, South Carolina; his grandson, Austin Lee Horne and his wife, Coral, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina; and his brother, Raymond Keith Summey and his wife, Debbie Crosby Summey. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family members, church family, former students, and friends.

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Arrangements

The family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Folly Beach Baptist Church.

Following the service at Folly Beach Baptist Church, the service will continue at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens.

For those unable to attend in person, the Celebration of Life will also be livestreamed on YouTube at @Follybeach Baptist.