By KEVIN CHIRI

Publisher

LAPLACE – The St. John Parish community lost a dear and valued member friend on Sunday when Malcolm J. &#8220Mac” Donaldson passed away at the Twin Oaks Nursing Home at the age of 81.

Donaldson was active in a multitude of parish groups over his years in St. John, with his family members connected to some of the first St. John families who were here.

Donaldson’s grandfather was Dr. L.T. Donaldson, who was one of the first physicians in St. John, while his father was well known for operating Donaldson’s Drug Store in Reserve. Mac Donaldson graduated from Ole Miss with a pharmacy degree, and eventually took over the drug store that his father had begun.

Although never running for office, Donaldson was very active in the political circles. However he was as well known as any public official due to his busy schedule in so many St. John community groups.

He was the former president of the United Way, former commander of the VFW Post, former president of the Lions Club, and helped found the St. John Recreation Center.

Donaldson was also one of the board members and presidents of the St. John Theater, however he was perhaps best known for over 35 years involvement with the Sugar Cane Pageant, which crowned the annual Sugar Queens in the area.

&#8220He was probably as happy about his involvement with the Sugar Queen Pageant as anything he did,” son-in-law Cogan Fulton said. &#8220And every one of those Sugar Queens loved him.”

Donaldson was a Navy veteran who signed up for the war after the Pearl Harbor bombing in 1941 and was married for 43 years until his wife passed away from cancer in 1988.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday (see page 2A for complete obituary listing.)