Kenneth Franklin McDonald

Kenneth Franklin McDonald (81), passed away peacefully on October 2, 2023, at McLeod Seacoast Hospital in North Myrtle Beach surrounded by his wife and family. Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina on February 23, 1942, Kenneth was the oldest child born to the late
Haywood Franklin McDonald and Lucille McLaurin McDonald. He attended Stedman High School and Campbell University.  In later years, Kenneth spent much of his time with his wife, Linda Priest-McDonald at their home in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Kenneth was masterful in business – not just one or even one kind.  His expertise was broad.  He was president of McDonald Lumber Company in Fayetteville, a business originally founded by his father. He co-owned the Quick Stop Food Mart, Inc., a convenience store business with over 150 stores in North and South Carolina. He was a fearless entrepreneur in retail, but a man who also succeeded, especially in his later years, in real estate development and property holdings.

Kenneth was a member of the Fayetteville Jaycees and for many years serving the organization as president of the Cape Fear Fair.  He was a member of the UNC Rams Club and an original PSL owner of the Carolina Panthers.  He was a lifelong member of Cumberland Union Baptist Church. He and Linda attended First Baptist Church in North Myrtle Beach.

Kenneth squeezed the hours out of the days. He could dance, he earned membership in The Living Legends Association of the Ocean Drive Grandstand. He enjoyed water skiing with his young children at White Lake, snow skiing with family and friends across the country, riding motorcycles with his buddies, and living on his boat. He was a loyal friend with a generous heart and unparalleled love for life, travel, and adventure.

Kenneth loved his family. His children, grandchildren and great granddaughter were a great joy in his life and his proudest accomplishment. He very much loved his wife, Linda, and delighted in the many adventures they had throughout our country and over the world but most of all loved the adventure of growing old together.

He is survived by his wife, Linda of their home; four children, Gregory McDonald (Carli Herring) of Fayetteville, NC; Jan McDonald Gilliam (Duane) of Fayetteville NC; Hannah McDonald Sloan (Hamilton) of Raleigh, NC; Marcia McDonald Stokes (Shannon) of Wilmington, NC and seven grandchildren: Olivia McDonald Brady (Stephen), Haywood McDonald (Julia Andrews) Cyrus Hamilton Sloan, III,  Wiley Sloan, Collin Schmidt, Janet Katherine Hardin, and Price Hardin; and one great grandchild, Maxwell Jane Brady; and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jane Hughes and his brother, Bobby McDonald.

Visitation with the family will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at Rogers and Breece Funeral Home in Fayetteville, NC. A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, October 6 at 2 p.m. at Cumberland Union Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family wishes to express special thanks for the love shown by his many friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cumberland Union Baptist Church Cedar Creek, NC, Hemophilia of North Carolina in Cary, NC, and Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, NC.

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