Stanley Richard Mackay, 85, left life on earth on September 2nd, 2022, to pass into life in heaven with his Lord and Savior. Stan was married to Helen Honeycutt Mackay for 62 years. He was predeceased by his parents, Harold G. Mackay and Gertrude Eckert Mackay, and his brother Jack (John Harold Mackay). Remaining is his other brother Ronald G. Mackay (June). Immediate family members in addition to Helen are their son Kerry Mackay (Sue Ellen), and daughter Lauren Mackay Yodis (Paul),and four granddaughters: Amy Mackay Cashion (Will), Kristin Mackay Godfrey (Brad), Catie Yodis, and Stephanie Yodis Leonard (Tyler); also by five great grandchildren, Ava and Kylie Godfrey; Annabelle, Eloise, and Wyatt Cashion, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Born in Bristol, Virginia, on March 31st, 1937, Stan with his parents moved to Greensboro in 1942. He graduated in 1955 from Curry School (a demonstration school for education majors at Woman’s College, later UNCG). There he was a star athlete, lettering in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He attended NC State University, majoring in Textile Engineering and receiving his B. S. degree in 1959. He was employed by J. P. Stevens Textile Corporation for most of his working life, pioneering the new time-study engineering program in many Stevens plants across the Southeast, and was eventually named as Corporate Director of Training for J. P. Stevens. When the Stevens corporation moved its headquarters to Greenville, South Carolina, he resigned from that position, later serving for short terms as a consultant, and with Cannon Mills, Wiscassett Mills, and Delta Woodside.
Stan was a committed Christian from his 19th year, in fellowship at Forest Avenue Tabernacle, which was later replaced by Shannon Hills Bible Chapel. His father had served as minister for this church from 1942 to his later years when he retired to Pittsboro Christian Village. Stan served the church as Youth Director, Assistant Sunday School Superintendent, and elder for many years.
About 1985 Stan left secular employment to become Executive Director of Mountain Top Youth Camp, a Christian camp on Sauratown Mountain near Pinnacle, North Carolina. The camp had been his true calling and passion since its inception in the early 1960’s. As the camp grew, he added new features such as ropes courses, and later rappelling and rock climbing on the cliffs on MTYC land. The organization of the spring and summer camp weeks depended heavily on volunteers to keep costs down. The camp week fees covered only a half to two thirds of the annual expenses. The remainder came from free-will donations to this ministry. The mission of Mountain Top Youth Camp is to win young souls to the Lord Jesus Christ and to help them learn to find and follow God’s will for their lives. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Mountain Top Youth Camp, PO Box 130, Pleasant Garden, NC, 27313.
The funeral service will be held at Shannon Hills Bible Chapel, 900 W. Vandalia Rd, Greensboro, NC, 27406, on Wednesday, September 7th, 2022, at Shannon Hills Bible Chapel (900 W. Vandalia Road, Greensboro, 27406) with visitation from 10 AM to 10:45; and the service at 11:00. The service will be followed by burial at Guilford Memorial Park (6000 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro, 27407) at 2:00 PM.