William James (“Mac”) McMahan of Huntsville, 92, passed away on Sept. 13, 2016. He was born on April 29, 1924. William is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sue Newton McMahan, two children, William James McMahan, Jr. (Barbara) and Lynell McMahan Aycock (Michael), and four grandchildren, Rebecca Aycock, William Aycock, David Aycock, and Christen Roth (Jake); nieces Lynda Kaye Hawkins (Bob), Memra Surles (Charlie), and Marta Philhower (Glenn). Beginning in 1953, Mac worked on the first Redstone Rocket at Redstone Arsenal, AL, and continued with the newly established NASA, working on missile programs up through the Saturn V; he then transferred to Army TMDE, from which he retired in 1994. William was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Burdella Hatley McMahan, two sisters, Elizabeth McMahan Favors and Nellie Lee McMahan, one brother, Thomas McMahan, and his great grandchild, Elaine Perkins. Visitation will be 10:00 AM on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Whitesburg Baptist Church South Campus (The ROC), followed by the funeral service at 11:00. Dr. Jimmy Jackson, pastor of Whitesburg Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will be at the cemetery adjacent to Leoma Baptist Church in Leoma, TN at 2:30 PM. Dr. Omar Hamada will officiate the graveside service, with music provided by soloist Barbara McMahan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Whitesburg Christian Academy, 7290 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, AL 35802, or to your favorite charity.
