George Terry McDonald Sr. died Dec. 8, 2013, at Emeritus at South Park in Charlotte, N.C.

He was born on Nov. 2, 1928, in Rockingham, to Bernice Terry and William Clayton McDonald Jr.

McDonald was co-owner of the S.L. Bagby Company in Charlotte. He was well known and respected in the wholesale lighting business, serving on the Board of Managers of the Tarheel Section, Illuminating Engineering Society in 1970 and 1971. George was an avid golfer and played at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte and High Meadows Golf and Country Club in Roaring Gap, N.C.

He served as President of Carmel Country Club in 1992 and Chairman of the Marshals Committee of the Kemper Open Golf Tournament in 1974. Traveling with good friends all over the United States, Canada, Ireland, Scotland and wherever there was a golf course, George would play. He also played football and baseball. George played American Legion baseball and semi-pro baseball in Richmond County in 1947 and spring training in Sanford, Fla., with the New York Giants.

He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1952 to 1954 at Fort Jackson, S.C. and Trieste, Italy.

He was active in the Carmel South Homeowners Association and served on the board many times as well as presiding as President. He was still busy fixing lighting problems for the association members until his illness. George enjoyed being a Shriner in Oasis Temple and served as Potentate in 1981. He was Vice Chairman of the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas for four years and served as General Chairman of the Shrine Bowl game in 1973 when he presented the first $1 million raised in a year for the crippled and burned child. He was very active in the Phalanx Masonic Lodge. He was an honored 33rd Degree Mason. He also served as director of Jester Court 109.

McDonald sang in the choir at Park Road Baptist Church for over 60 years where he was an active member and a Deacon Emeritus. He spent many hours faithfully visiting the sick and bereaved. The McDonald family is grateful to the staff at the Emeritus at South Park for the care extended to our Dad and husband.

McDonald is predeceased by one brother, Robert G. McDonald.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara M. McDonald; one daughter, Susan Shannon Hughes; one son, George Terry McDonald Jr. of Asheville; three grandsons, Jason Hunter Niell and wife Katie of Redondo Beach, Calif., Clayton Christopher Niell of Charlotte, and Stephen Aery (Sam) McDonald of Asheville; one sister, Elizabeth McDonald Davis of Clinton, S.C.; one brother, William Clayton McDonald and wife Patricia of Chapel Hill; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of George Terry McDonald Sr. will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, at Park Road Baptist Church. The Reverend Amy and the Reverend Dr. Russ Dean will preside with Dr. Allen Laymon assisting. A reception and visitation will be held at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Park Road Baptist Church, 3900 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28209 and Shriners Hospital for Children, c/o Oasis Shriners, 604 Doug Mayes Place, Charlotte, NC 28262.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home of Mooresville is serving the McDonald family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.