In Memory

Alexander (Mac) MacDonald Jr. - Class Of 1965

Alexander “Mac” McRae MacDonald, Jr
CMA 1965

May 26, 2021

 

 

 

Alexander “Mac” McRae MacDonald, Jr. (74) of Charlotte, NC passed away on May 26, 2021.

Mac was born in Bennettsville SC, but grew up in Dillon County. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alexander McRae MacDonald, Sr. and Nannie McIntyre MacDonald of Dillon County, SC. Mac was a 1964 graduate of Dillon High School, where he earned a full scholarship to Lenoir-Rhyne College (University), in Hickory, NC as a starting offensive tackle all four years. The Bears won the Carolinas Conference Championship each of those four years and were ranked as high as second in NAIA competition. Mac earned honors as a football player for the Bears, including All-Conference, Honorable Mention Lutheran All-American status, Best Blocker Award and was selected to play in the Sudan Temple Shriners College All-Star game. He was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and received his BA degree in Economics in January of 1969.

After graduation, Mac taught and coached football at Statesville Senior High School in NC and Brookland-Cayce High School in SC. In 1973, he embarked on a successful real estate sales career that took him all over the South-East. While living on Hilton Head Island he made a strong career move joining The Cypress where he served as Sales Manager of The Cypress of Hilton Head Island, a senior continuing care community. As business expanded, The Cypress Company brought him to Charlotte to lead the sales division.  He was very proud of these communities and his other business adventures in senior care throughout the South-east that continued until his retirement in 2011.

Although a success in business, Mac would tell you that he was very proud of his other personal contributions, like his part in the startup of Hilton Head Presbyterian Church (PCA) and serving as Head of the Deacons for 5 years.  An avid shag dancer from his early years, he also served as a founding member of The Hilton Head Shag Club and helped start The Island Classic Weekend. This annual weekend event is still dancing away 3 decades later.

In the later years of his life, Mac had reconnected with his lifelong friends and teammates of the Lenoir-Rhyne football team and he was truly honored and proud to have them as an important part of his life. In 2011, he was honored with a place in the Lenoir-Rhyne Sports Hall of Fame. He continued to have a close relationship with his beloved school through contributions to The Bears Club/Piedmont Educational Foundation and his attendance of games with teammates over the years.

Mac is survived by his loving companion and high school sweetheart Joann Bowen Britt, two sons Alexander M. MacDonald III (Morgan), James Whitton MacDonald (Karen) and six grandchildren: James, Austin, Riley, Randi, Findlay and Rae. Also, a sister Jackie Hendrix (Ronnie) of Myrtle beach, a sister Sandra Adams (Terry) of Myrtle Beach and brother Richard (Janet) of Hilton Head Island plus 6 wonderful nieces, nephews and their families.

A memorial service will be announced later. Any memorial contributions may be sent to Hilton Head Presbyterian Church (PCA) or The LRU Bears Club/ Legends Legacy Fund.