Joseph Jenkins Mackay III, of Mint Hill, N.C., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.
Born in Orangeburg, SC on September 01, 1934, Jenks Mackay was a graduate of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, and went on to serve as a Lieutenant in the United States Army from 1956-1958. Jenks was a professional Civil Engineer, employed by The Boeing Company and the Duke Power Company. Upon retirement, he found new ways to put his talents to work by crafting and designing reed baskets, rigging up Christmas displays at his house, and even “engineering food” to bring to potlucks and dinners with family and friends. Never one to stay idle, he also recaptured his love of shooting skeet and trap, spending time (and eating a good amount of cake) with friends at the Charlotte Rifle and Pistol Club in Matthews, NC.
Jenks was a Christian man of deep faith who loved the Lord. As a member, Elder, and Deacon of Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, he was always ready and exceptionally able to quote the scriptures and demonstrate his recall of biblical knowledge. His pride in his Presbyterian faith went hand in hand with his Scottish heritage, with both tied to his enthusiasm for all things historical, but especially biblical history and military history. He was an avid reader of his Bible, of historical fiction, of detective stories, of comic strips, of newspapers, and anything else that would help him win a game of Trivial Pursuit. He passed this love of learning and reading on to his daughters, and members of his ARPC Bible Study classes were inspired by his lifelong pursuit of biblical knowledge.
Jenks was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Chandler Mackay; his parents, Joseph Jenkins Mackay, Jr. and Laura Seabrook Mackay; and his sister, Laura Mackay Irwin. He is survived by his two children, Elizabeth Ann Mackay (Mark Dittman) and Jolara Chandler Mackay; his brother- and sister-in-law, Robert (“Bob”) Edward Chandler, III and Susan Chandler; and his nephews and nieces, Basil Lynn Irwin, Jr., Dail Irwin, Laura Irwin Baily, and Kathie Chandler Malia.
Jenks will be laid to rest next to his beloved Ann with a graveside service on Sunday, November 07, 2021, 11:30am at Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery in Mint Hill, NC. Donations may be made to Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church (PO Box 25903, Charlotte, NC 28229) and DayCity Hospice (8039 Washington Village Dr Suite 110, Dayton, OH 45458).
Posted in: Charlotte Observer
Posted on: 2021-11-01
Link to original obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/charlotte/name/joseph-mackay-obituary?id=31210782