Jeannine Aun

M. Jeannine Aun, 69, died on August 17, 2026, at her family home in Columbia, SC. A native of Lexington, SC, Jeannine was born in April 1957, the seventh of eleven children born to the late Michael A. Aun, Sr. and Alice Celeste Mack Aun.

Surrounded by loved ones, Jeannine passed away quietly, after an almost three-year battle with metastatic breast cancer.

Jeannine, affectionately known as “Nino” in her youth, and “Dean” as an adult, loved family and friends with the biggest heart imaginable. On more than one occasion, she literally gave others the clothes off her back. She lived her life helping others, often to her own detriment, physically and financially. Giving was truly her love language.

Jeannine was multitalented without recognizing her natural gifts. Throughout her life, she held myriad jobs, but her favorite, and the one that truly used her talent with music, was as the lights and sound engineer for her sister Lorraine’s band, Tender Lovin' Care (TLC).

With Lorraine and brother, Charlie, she traveled with TLC to perform at various venues including military clubs in the Carolinas, entertaining troops during the 1970's. Jeannine will be remembered as someone who shared her love of music with even the youngest around her, teaching toddlers about the joy of the “Banana song” by the late Harry Chapin.

Jeannine graduated from Lexington High School and attended the University of South Carolina School of Business. Her love of caring for others overflowed when working at Tina’s Kindergarten and Daycare in the 70s. During the late ‘70s and early '80s, she and her late brother, Fred, managed Aun’s Feed Stable in Lexington. The popular delicatessen was known for great sandwiches and excellent music by local musicians.

In later years, she worked as a computer operations manager at the former South Carolina National Bank and managed the U.S. #1 Flea Market in Lexington. In 2024, she retired from the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Sadly, she had been diagnosed with cancer 6 months before she officially retired and hospitalized with metastatic brain tumors the month she retired.

Jeannine is succeeded by her siblings Mary (Catherine Lugg) of Belle Mead, NJ; George (Gale) of Lexington, SC; Michael (Christine) of Orlando, FL; Lorraine Aun Barakat (Pierre) of Columbia, SC; Charles of Mt Dora, FL; Therese (Lorna Gentry) of Atlanta, GA; John (Lory) of Lexington, SC; Frances (Bridget Lupia) of North Bergen, NJ; and Andrew (Peggy) of Chapin, SC, as well as by numerous nieces, nephews and life-long friends who loved her dearly. One very close friend, whom Jeannine considered her “daughter,” Stephanie Millitello Calloway of Greenville, SC, had the special opportunity of visiting Jeannine throughout her cancer battle, and was with her and the family during Jeannine’s final days and hours.

A Memorial Service will be held at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home - Lexington Chapel, 503 N. Lake Dr, Lexington, South Carolina 29072, on August 23, 2026, at 2:00 pm. A visitation and reception will follow the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to:

Toby’s Place Oliver Gospel Mission - https://www.olivergospel.org/?give=7XEWNRD8

Cancer of Many Colors -https://cancerofmanycolors.charityproud.org/Donate; or

Keepin It Real Ministries - https://keepin-it-real-ministries.square.site/s/shop