Rev. Harold Lawson McDonald

Reverend Harold Lawson McDonald passed away on May 25, 2024 following an extended illness. Reverend McDonald was born on June 15, 1936 in Montgomery, Alabama. He attended and graduated from Sydney Lanier High School in Montgomery. It was during high school that he met Betty Lucille Lankford, who immediately became the love of his life, and a few years later joined him in a marriage that endured for the next sixty-seven years. Following high school graduation, Rev. McDonald took a B.A. degree in English from Howard College (now Samford University), and continued his education at Southeastern Seminary, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1958. Throughout both college and seminary, he was pastor of Hayneville Baptist Church in Hayneville, Alabama, commuting back and forth by train between Wake Forest and Montgomery on the weekends he was preaching, and working at The Young Men’s Clothing Shop in Durham, on his “free” weekends. Upon graduating from seminary, he served as Associate Pastor of Youth and Education at First Baptist Church in Fairmont, NC from 1961-1964, and then accepted a call from First Baptist Church of Burnsville, NC where he was pastor from 1964-1974. During his ministry at First Baptist Burnsville, he oversaw the construction of a new church building on the town square. In 1974, Rev. McDonald accepted a call from First Baptist Church of Albemarle, NC, where he served as pastor for twenty-seven years until his retirement in June, 2001. In the years following his retirement from full-time ministry, he acted as interim pastor at First Baptist Church Fairmont, NC (2001-2003), Kendalls Baptist Church (2003-2005), and Richfield Baptist Church (2009-2011), and as Chaplain of The Gardens of Taylor Glen (2002-2018). In addition to a lifetime of Christian service, Rev. McDonald also served in number of civic capacities, including his lengthy tenure on the Mars Hill University Board of Trustees (1974-2009), and his role as Chair of the Albemarle Sesquicentennial Committee in 2006. As ardently devoted as he was to serving his church and community, Harold McDonald’s greatest source of joy in life was his family. He was never as contented as when surrounded by the merry chaos of a family get-together, whether at Christmas, Thanksgiving, or just some random weekend when one or more of the McDonald clan ventured to Albemarle for a visit with “Mimi and Grandaddy.” He is survived by his beloved wife Betty, his children Carole McDonald Lewis, and Al (Charleston, SC), Dr. Hal McDonald, and Nancy (Asheville, NC), and Dr. Susan McDonald, and Lyn (Atlanta, GA); his grandchildren A. D. Lewis IV, and Christy (Charleston, SC), Elizabeth Lewis (Charleston, SC), Hillary McDonald, and Nick (Leonardtown, MD), Dr. Lawson McDonald, and Julia (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Eleanor McDonald (Memphis, TN), Sydney Baysden Spivey, and Stephen (Mt. Holly, NC), Reilly Baysden (Apex, NC), Ashton Baysden, and Andrew (Raleigh, NC), and Harrison Baysden (Apex, NC); and his two great-grandchildren Miller McDonald Spivey (Mt. Holly, NC), and Elizabeth King McDonald (Fort Lauderdale, FL). He is preceded in death by his daughter Lori McDonald Baysden, with whom he is now enjoying a joyous reunion. A memorial service celebrating the life of Rev. McDonald will be held at First Baptist Church of Albemarle, NC on Saturday, June 1 at 11:00 a.m. Donations in memory of Rev. McDonald may be made to First Baptist Church, Albemarle, or to Tillery Compassionate Care of Albemarle, NC.

Rev. Harold Lawson McDonald

June 15, 1936 - May 25, 2024