Edward H. Mackay

Edward H. Mackay, 92, died March 10, 2005. He was born in Calhoun, Georgia, the eldest son of the Reverend Edward George and Beulah Mason Mackay. His childhood and youth were spent in Alabama where his interest in aviation developed. His first flight was in 1929 when barnstormers offered rides to the public in Athens, Alabama. He graduated from Birmingham-Southern College where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Before the US entered WWII, Mr. Mackay was a Civilian Instructor at Souther Field in Americus, Georgia training Royal Canadian Air Force pilots. During the war he was in the Army Air Force as a pilot in the Air Transport Command. Stationed in Assam, he completed seventy-two missions over the Himalayas to Kunming, China and was awarded an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, an Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal with two Bronze Stars for India, Burma and Central Burma Campaigns. Following WWII he flew for several non-scheduled airlines before joining Southern Airways in 1949. An injury in 1962 ended his flying days but his interest in flying and his devotion to his colleagues never waned. The family will receive friends Saturday, March 12 from 4 to 6 pm at A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home. Graveside Services will be held at 3 pm Sunday afternoon at the Decatur City Cemetery on Church Street. Dr. Wesley Wachob and Dr. Robert Gary will officiate. Those who desire may send contributions to the Mackay Library at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, 1660 North Decatur Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30307. He is survived by two brothers: John Leland Mackay, Donald Mason Mackay and wife, Anna Laura; one sister, Betty M. Asbury and her husband, Frank; Sara Lee Jackson Mackay, widow of Ed's brother James A. Mackay who preceded him in death six months ago. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews. Serving as Pallbearers are nephews John L. Mackay, Donald M. Mackay Junior, Bruce c. Mackay, F. Logan Asbury, E. Mackay Asbury and Daniel M. Asbury.  A. S. Turner & Sons