Mr. William Henry Mack

Mr. William Henry Mack, Jr., 72, passed away on October 21, 2023 at Select Medical Center at UF Health Shands Hospital. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. On October 5th, 1951, in Miami, FL, the late William H. Mack, Sr. and the late Lillian Davis Mack Pecke were blessed with a son, William Henry Mack, Jr. He was affectionately known as "Billy" to family and friends. He is preceded in death by his brother, Edward E. Jones. William was born and raised in Miami, FL and later relocated to High Springs before settling in Gainesville where he lived until his demise. He was known as a Bull and graduated from Miami Northwestern in 1970, where he was captain of the football team. He continued his education at Southwest Minnesota State College in Minnesota and graduated from Florida Memorial College with a degree in Social Services. During his career, Mr. Mack served in several capacities including three years at The Montreal Medical Clinic working with individuals with special needs, two years at a Teenage Living Community working with teenagers and various issues, and three years at South Lane Healthcare Center working with patients with mental health issues. Finally, after many years of dedicated service, he retired from the Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center in Gainesville, FL, a mental health correctional facility. William loved God with his whole heart and had tremendous faith. He was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Ocala, FL. He was a devoted son to his mother Lillian Pecke until her death. He was a dutiful brother, father, and uncle to his siblings, daughter, nieces and nephews. He was also committed to fighting against injustice for himself, his family, and his community. He leaves to mourn and cherish his everlasting memory: his daughter, Desheba (Dondrick) Rutledge; three grandchildren; Jasheyla Rushing, Kelaiah Davis, and Isaiah Rutledge; seven siblings, Pastor Janet Lorraine Mack, Pastor Janice Laverne Wright, Dr. Deborah (Ronald) Allen, Edward Fitzgerald Pecke, Mark Alexander Pecke, Pearl (Robin) Broadnax, and Derek (Christina) Graham; devoted niece: LaMonica (Thomas) Ash; special cousin, Debra "Tiny" Jones; devoted friend, Denise Crawford-Wescott; nieces: Shantell Wright, Princess Stanley, Dawnedra Caldwell, Trakina (Otis) Ragin, Shamieka Norman, Jasmine Allen, Markeisha Pecke, and Gabrielle Pecke; nephews, Lawrence Wright, Thaddeus Jones, Eugene (NaShay) Wright, Derek Graham, Jr., Rico McPherson, Jarvis Owens, Edward Allen, and Mark Alex Pecke, II; and a host of great-nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Visitation for Mr. Mack will be Friday, November 3, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Chestnut Memorial Chapel, 18 NW 8th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Second Bethlehem Baptist Seminary, 1205 NW 4th Street, Ocala, FL 34475. Interment will follow immediately in Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, 8750 West Highway 326, Ocala, FL 34482. Family and friends are asked to meet at the home of Mr. Mack's cousin, Debra "Tiny" Jones, 7463 West Highway 326, Ocala, FL 34482, on Saturday before the funeral service at 10:00 AM to form the Cortege for the processional. The Chestnut family and staff offer our most deepest condolences to the Mack family during this difficult time. Cards and floral arrangements can be mailed or delivered to Chestnut Funeral Home, 18 NW 8th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601. Resolutions can be emailed to wecare@chestnutfh.com before Friday, November 3, 2023 at 12:00PM. Floral arrangements can also be ordered online at www.chestnutfh.com/williammack. "A CHESTNUT SERVICE"

Tributes

Mr. William Henry Mack

October 5, 1951 - October 21, 2023