Mac Lancaster, 74, passed away July 15, 2011 at his home. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Gail McSwain Lancaster; his sons, Chris Lancaster and wife Subetha of Spartanburg, SC and Kevin Lancaster and wife Beth of Mt. Gilead, NC; and three grandchildren Martha Lee Lancaster of Spartanburg, SC, Hunter Lancaster, and Drew Lancaster of Mt. Gilead NC. He was the son of B.E. Lancaster and Mabel Heath Lancaster Riddick.
He was born in Norfolk, Virginia on Sept. 9, 1936 and raised in Grifton, NC. He earned his BS and MA degrees from East Carolina University and EdD from Western Carolina University. During his time at East Carolina, he was a member and served as President of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Mac was an educator in the NC Public School System serving in Martin, Hertford, and Cleveland counties. He was the long time principal of Burns High School and Fallston Elementary School. He was the Founder and President of the Cleveland County Educational Foundation and was a recipient of the Shelby City Council Merry Go Round Award for exemplary achievement in education.
He was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church serving as a Sunday School teacher and Deacon. He was a proud Rotarian, former President of Shelby Rotary Club, and Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Cleveland County Healthcare System Trustee Council. He served on the Board of Directors of the Cleveland County Sports Commission. He was a part member of the Board of Directors at Gardner-Webb University. He was the chairman of the Dover Foundation Scholarship Committee.
Mac was a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. He received the Silver Beaver and Good Shepherd Awards for all of his work with the Boy Scouts.
Mac enjoyed traveling with the Friendship Force, visiting the beach, and following ECU Pirate sports. A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, July 18, 2011 at New Bethel Baptist Church in Lawndale. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00pm on Sunday, July 17, 2011 at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory. Burial will be in Rose Hill Memorial Park.