John McDonald Jr.

Celebrating the Life of John M. “Johnny Mac” McDonald Jr. It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear son, brother, uncle, nephew, and friend to many. John passed away unexpectedly at the age of 45. Born and raised in Florence County to John “Mike” McDonald Sr. and the late Kathy Morris McDonald. Celebration of life will be Saturday, May 17 at Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home in Darlington, SC at 11:00am. Visitation will follow the service. The family will be receiving visitors at his sister’s house, 325 S. Center Rd., Hartsville, SC. John attended Florence Public Schools and graduated from Shiloh Christian School. John was passionate about baseball, playing throughout his youth at the Greenwood Baseball field. An avid supporter of the Gamecocks, Atlanta Braves, and NASCAR, he found joy in following his favorite teams. John completed training at Dent Wizard’s school in St. Louis and built an impressive career spanning over 24 years as a PDR Technician. His commitment to excellence led him through continuous training, culminating in the prestigious Platinum World Class certification, which required rigorous testing at Master, 4-Star, and World Class levels—an accomplishment reflecting his dedication and strive for excellence. John is survived by his sister, Jenifer (Chris) O’Neal of Hartsville, and his beloved nieces Madison and Morgan (Carson) O’Neal of Hartsville. He is also remembered by Aunt Janis (Jay) Motte of Florence, cousins Kay (Wayne) Douglas of Florence, Mackey Miles of Myrtle Beach, Jason (Kristen) Motte and Sage Motte of Greenville, Mary Anne (Jeff) Meacham, Will and Olivia Meacham of Rockingham NC. John was predeceased by his grandparents Henry and Katheryn Morris, and Jim and Peggy McDonald, all of Florence; aunts Brenda Miles of Conway and Suzanne McInnis of Rockingham; nephew Matthew Ryan O’Neal of Hartsville, and 4-legged loyal companion, Captain. While we grieve his loss on earth, John is now reunited with his mother, whom he cherished deeply. John spent his years enjoying life in Florence and at the beach, leaving a lasting impression wherever he went. His absence will be profoundly felt by our family. We will remember him fondly and continue to cheer for the Gamecocks and Braves in his memory. We are in the process of setting up a trust to sponsor a new Dent Wizard technician in purchasing tools in John’s honor. Please mail checks to Jenifer O’Neal, 325 S. Center Rd. Hartsville, SC 29550.

John McDonald Jr.

October 27, 1979 - May 9, 2025