Carlton McEwan “Mac” Baldwin IV, of Savannah, Ga., passed away at home with his loving family surrounding him on February 19, 2024 at the age of 70. His battle with many serious medical illnesses in recent years showed his courage in facing life’s challenges with a smile. Despite the pain, he always maintained a positive attitude and hope for the future. He was best known for his corny sense of humor, his ability to fix or make anything with his tools, and his pride as a retired Commander in the United States Navy. Anyone who asked him how he was doing was most likely told, “If I was doing any better, I’d be twins!” He was the most loving father who enjoyed spending time with his family, especially at the house on Edisto Island, SC. Mac cherished his many friendships from all walks of his life and it is so meaningful to his family that so many of those friends stayed in close touch, especially in his final years.
Mac was born on December 19, 1953 in Aiken, SC. He graduated from Aiken High School in 1972 and The Citadel in 1976 where he was in Echo Company and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He also earned two Master’s degrees; a Masters in National Defense and Policy from the Naval War College and a Masters in Management from Salve Regina University while stationed in Newport, RI. Throughout his 24 years of service in the Navy, he traveled to all corners of the world and he loved sharing stories from his adventures. He served on the following ships: USS Cone, USS Wainwright, USS Santa Barbara, USS Knox, USS South Carolina, USS America, USS Yosemite, USS Macdonough, and he decommissioned the USS Fidelity. After his retirement, he served as the Military Liaison at Savannah State University. He loved advocating for active military personnel and veterans to pursue an education through the GI Bill.
Survivors include his wife Catherine Jane Baldwin; two daughters, Rachel Elizabeth Baldwin, and Annie Baldwin Keller (Drew Keller); brother Rob Cloaninger (Lori, Robert, Catherine, and Emily Cloaninger); brother Ken Baldwin; sister Martha Stapleton (Bern Stapleton, Joseph and Cameron Baynham), nieces Natalie and April Thompson and Ashton Rushing, and nephew Brantley Thompson.
He was preceded in death by his father, Carlton McEwan Baldwin III; mother, Jean Herndon Baldwin; brother John Baldwin; and sister Beth Thompson.
Mac’s family would like to thank the hospital staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Hospice Savannah for being so kind and loving to him in his final days.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 27 from 5-7pm at Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors on Whitemarsh Island. Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, February 28 at 11am at Grace Church of the Islands. Burial will take place at Beaufort National Cemetery on Wednesday, February 28, at 2pm.