James Wilson Mackie

James Wilson Mackie, of Bryn Mawr, PA and Hilton Head Island, SC, died peacefully in his sleep on September 5, 2025. Born In Raleigh, NC, he was the son of Dr.  George C. Mackie and Kathleen Mackie Lake and the husband of Clare Frances Mackie. Born May 30, 1937, Jim grew up in Wake Forest and began his career in the food industry at 12 by building a “pop shop” near the University’s playing fields where he sold sodas to the students attending the games. The pop shop is still there.

A 1960 graduate of Wake Forest University and the Food Distribution Program at Cornell University in 1961, he worked for the American Stores company for 38 years, from 1960 to 1968, and was the Risk Manager for their East Coast division.  He was the past president of the Scotch-Irish Society of America, Chairman of the Scotch-Irish Foundation, Director of the Risk and Insurance Management Society, and a proud member and Director of the Rotary International Club of Ardmore, and active in many community organizations. He was president of the Haverford Civic Association, and Chairman of the Main Line District of Boy Scouts. He was Chairman of the Philadelphia Safety Council, served on the Alumni Council of Wake Forest and was president of the Greater Delaware Valley Alumni Club. He and Clare hosted all the incoming freshmen and their parents each August at a cookout at their home for many years so that new students could make friends before arriving at the University.

A life member of the Union League of Philadelphia, and longtime member of the Merion Cricket Club, he played tennis with a group of good friends for decades. Jim was a member of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church for over 65 years where he served as a Deacon, Elder, and member of the Senior Choir. Choir tours every three years to perform in Ireland, Cuba, South Africa, Russia, Czechoslovakia, Germany, and other countries, and especially the tour he led with Clare to Brazil, were highlights that he treasured forever after.

In 2010 Jim and Clare started spending part of each year on Hilton Head Island and enjoyed many relaxing years together at home in the Cypress community, enjoying the company of so many new friends, and traveling the Mississippi River, Egypt, Greece and Canada.

Jim is survived by his wife of 33 years, Clare, daughters Linda Mackie of Newton, NC and Jane Mackie of Newtown Square, PA, stepdaughter Dianne Moore (Steve) of Charlotte, NC, granddaughters Elizabeth Heinley (Greg,) of Doylestown, PA, Kathleen Cook (Fred,) of Conover, NC, Kelley Warner (Brendan,) of Asheville, NC step granddaughter Ashlyn Walker (Gene,) of Charlotte, NC,  and step grandson Joseph Moore of Charlotte, NC. “Jim-Jim” is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Brooke and Benjamin Heinley; Freddy, Anna, and Lucy Cook; and Cameron and Casey Warner.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at the Cypress Hall on October 19,2025 at 4:00

A service to celebrate and remember his life will be held in the Sanctuary of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 18th, 2025, at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, 7 Lagoon Road, Hilton Head Island, SC  29928