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Mack McInnis Obituary
McInnis' daughters said their father died in his sleep Sunday. He was 79.
McInnis' memorable statement about a push to make Mississippi prisoners wear striped uniforms made national news in 1994.
"We want a prisoner to look like a prisoner, to smell like a prisoner and taste like a prisoner. When you see one of these boogers aloose, you'll say 'I didn't know we had zebras in Mississippi,'" McInnis said during a House debate. "Some of them prisoners, you couldn't humiliate them with a humiliatin' machine."
His daughter Rhonda Jahns said McInnis was strict but loving as a father, lawmaker, teacher and longtime football coach. He coached and taught at Leakesville High School, Stone High School and Greene County High School. His students and players knew him as "Coach Mack."
"I remember being in the ninth grade and meeting a guy who told me, 'I'd really like to ask you for a date, but there's no way I'm going to because you're Coach Mack's daughter,'" said Jahns, who is a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force reserve.
McInnis served the 42nd District in the Mississippi House from 1976 to 1980 and the 105th District from 1992 to 2000. Jahns said her father loved people and enjoyed the campaigning process, when he got to knock on constituents' doors and talk with them.
"Anytime we went somewhere, we were always the last people to leave, because as long as there was someone left to talk to he would want to stay and talk," Jahns recalled.
McInnis lived in the south Mississippi town of Vernal at the end of his life. He was born on the same piece of property in 1934, the 12th of 13 siblings. Many of his relatives still live near his home on McInnis Vernal Road, across from the church he attended as a child and the family cemetery, Janhs said.
McInnis was recently di agnosed with congestive heart failure and hospitalized, but released when his condition improved, according to his daughters. He died at his daughter Denise Bruno's home in Ocean Springs. McInnis had been in good mental and physical health until recently, his daughters said.
Funeral arrangements were pending as of Monday.
LAURA TILLMAN, Associated Press
Copyright © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
43 Entries
Christa Seal
April 20, 2014
Thinking of you Rhonda, Denise and Malcolm. Your dad was a great man and loved you three so much!!
Denise
April 18, 2014
One year later, but I hear you loud and clear, as ever! I love you Daddy...
How you can show support
Thomas Tanner
April 8, 2013
I am so sorry to hear about Coach Mack's passing and send my deepest sympathies to his family at this time of sorrow. Coach Mack was an inspiration to me when I played football for him, and he was a great role model for many young men in their formative years. May he rest in peace . I will miss him greatly and think of him often.
Tommy and Elizabeth Tanner
Clayton, NC
April 8, 2013
Greatest sympathy extended to your family. Gail Denson Maples
John McAdams family & staff
April 8, 2013
Our deepest sympathy.
Shirley Dueitt Russell
April 6, 2013
May God rest your soul. Peace my friend.
Shirley Dueitt Russell
April 6, 2013
May god give you all, family and friends, strength and comfort. May God bring you peace with your great memories of him. He was a unique person and so interesting to be around. Rest in peace Mack, you have earned your reward. May God Bless you all. Classmate of graduating class of 1954. Shirley Dueitt Russell
Billy and Wyvona Scarbrough
April 6, 2013
Our prayers are with you on the loss of your father. Remember the times we all had together when we lived next door on the Perkinston Campus. God bless you and give you strength in the days to come.
Norma Lott/ McCluskey
April 5, 2013
Praying for the family! He was a great man! I had him for Drivers Ed! And he always had us laughing!
Janice (Odom)Danzey
April 5, 2013
Many memories of this man from growing up in Perk with Rhonda and Denise to his coaching at Stone High. Love to his family!
Jeannie Jackson
April 5, 2013
I credit Mr. McInnis for me getting my Driver's License. He was the BEST EVER Driver's Education Teacher to hit Beaumont High School! My sincere condolences to you for the loss of this so humble person that I had known from years past.
Goldie Patton/Hickman
April 5, 2013
I have great memories of him as the best basketball coach ever. I know he will be truly missed by his family and friends.
April 5, 2013
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.
April 5, 2013
draw close to God and he will draw close to you."jmes.4:8..sorry for your loss..q
April 5, 2013
It's always hard to say goodbye to a great friend - but you never loose your memories! Prayers and know how loved and well thought of Mack was!
Peggye Hillman Whittenburg
San Saba, TX
Lemoine & Kerrie Dueitt Helton/Hinton
April 5, 2013
Rhonda, Denise, & Malcolm, We wanted to extend deepest sympathy to you. Losing parents is so difficult as we have recently walked this path. Your dad played such a memorable and tremendously fun role in our high school years @ Leakesville High. We instantly smile @ soooo many fun times with him. You girls also hold some Very Special memories in our childhood...remember playing together and going to Muh's....She always had some fun refreshments for us..hmmm a choc. milk shake which was the Bomb!! Kerrie & I will be praying for you all..Hold on to your memories! We will never forget you all or
Your Dad!
Christa Seal
April 5, 2013
I will never forget Coach Mack. He was a great teacher, coach and friend. He met so many people in his life through teaching, coaching and politics and everything else he was involved in. He will be missed. He was blessed with three beautiful children to carry on his memory. Love you all, Christa Tanner Seal
Katherine Madden Bell
April 4, 2013
From a coach to a politician,my Dad, Buddy Madden and Mr. McInnis had a friendship during the Stone High years. GOD Bless Your Family.,.GOD provides and assures you through faith in HIM. Katherine Madden Bell
Daphne Smith
April 4, 2013
I loved Coach Mack. He was a fine teacher. I am so sorry for your loss.
April 4, 2013
Rhonda, Malcolm, and Denise...Thinking of your dad brings back many memories of special visits, political campaigns and discussions that we enjoyed. Mack was truly a unique guy who never met a stranger and certainly had strong convictions. He will be remembered for making a difference in so many people's lives. May comfort and peace be with you during this time of sorrow. Anna Faye
Carlo Regaliza
April 4, 2013
Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel about our friend's passing. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but love leaves a memory no one can steal. With sincere sympathy, Biloxi VA Hematology Staff
Sandy Henderson Maples
April 4, 2013
A teacher and good man in so many ways. Prayers going to his family.
Scott Dearman
April 3, 2013
He taught me a lot about hard work and discipline. He made a football player out of me and it helped get me started in the right direction in life.
LaDeborah (Smith) Jones
April 3, 2013
My fondest memories are of him playing football videos in Driver's Ed. class, going over the plays with the guys. We all benefited, learning how to drive better, and also, a lot about football. He was a good teacher, and a role model for students. He loved his family and his Lord. May you find comfort in knowing you can see him again, in eternity.
JEANNE-DENMARK PIPKINS
April 3, 2013
My Heart felt thoughts and prayers are with the Family. This man was one of a kind and will always be one of the great memories I have of when he was Coach at Leakesville High School. He was a friend to all and would take the time to always talk to you. Bless you All and just know Coach Mac will never be forgotten...
April 3, 2013
So sorry! Will be praying for all of you. Arlena Williams Gilley
April 3, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
April 3, 2013
Offering my deepest condolences during this difficult time, I'm so very sorry for your loss, death is something we are never prepared for, but please find comfort in knowing sickness, pain and death will one day be no more.
Mike Carter
April 2, 2013
Rhonda, Denise and Malcolm, Coach Mack was a coach, mentor, and friend for whom I've had the utmost respect. He got the most out of this scrawny player he could. He taught Ms. History and Civics to our 9th grade class at Stone High, where he commanded respect and we gave it to him. He and Coach Miller taught me to strive to work harder and be more. I am grateful for his friendship. I visited with him a couple times in Jackson when the Legislature was in session. He even surprised me when he came by my office one day. God Bless you! He will be missed!
Mike Carter
April 2, 2013
Rhonda, Denise and Malcolm, Coach Mack was a coach, mentor, and friend for whom I've had the utmost respect. He got the most out of this scrawny player he could. He taught Ms. History and Civics to our 9th grade class at Stone High, where he commanded respect and we gave it to him. He and Coach Miller taught me to strive to work harder and be more. I am grateful for his friendship. I visited with him a couple times in Jackson when the Legislature was in session. He even surprised me when he came by my office one day. God Bless you! He will be missed!
Trisha Gilliam
April 2, 2013
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this difficult time. It definitely will not be same in Vernal without Mack. Wish I could be with you all on Saturday but unable to make the trip. Love to you all, Trisha
April 2, 2013
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time. Wish I could be there on Saturday but will be unable to attend. I love you all. Trisha
April 2, 2013
Mack served in the legislature with my brother Billy Bowles and I met him there in Jackson as well as in Okolona . I always liked him because you knew where he stood. He was a good man and my prayers go out to his family. RIP Mack.
Karen Caldwell
April 2, 2013
To the Mcinnis family,
I wanted to offer my condolences.
Imagine; life when
when eyes of blind ones see again,
And ears of deaf ones hear again,
When deserts blossom as the rose
And from parched ground fresh water flows,
When lame ones leap just like the hart,
When loved ones never have to part,
Such blessed times you'll realize,
If you keep your eyes on the prize.
When tongues of mute ones speak again,
When old ones will be young again,
When earth will yield her rich increase
And all good things will never cease,
When songs of children fill the air,
When joy and peace are everywhere,
Then, too, you'll see the dead arise,
If you keep your eyes on the prize.
When wolves and lambs will feed as one,
When bears and calves bask in the sun,
A mere young boy will lead them all,
And they will head his childish call.
When tears belong to yesterday,
When fears and pain have passed away,
You'll see how God these things supplies,
If you keep your eyes on the prize.
My thoughts and prayers will be with all of you.
Mike Boyett
April 2, 2013
I was lucky enough to play for Mac at Stone High School in 1966 and always thought he was a fine gentleman RIP Coach
Rosalind Lock
April 2, 2013
Rhonda, Denise, Malcolm & Kay you are in my thoughts and prayers We loved Mack it won't be the same without him at the Vernal house thank GOD for our precious memories !!
Elizabeth Rogers Criddle
April 2, 2013
So sorry to hear about your loss of Mack. I was a classmate of his when he attended Okolona High School. He was a well liked person. Sorry I had lost contact with him over the years, but I know he will be missed.
April 2, 2013
Offering my deepest condolences during this difficult time, I'm so very sorry for your loss, death is something we are never prepared for, but please find comfort in knowing sickness, pain and death will one day be no more. For God has promised.
~Volunteer Minister~
Victoria&Andrew
April 2, 2013
our condolences
GodBless you
rest n`peace
Mr.Mack McInnis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gertha Meme
April 2, 2013
My deepest Sympathy to the family during this difficult time may God give you all the strength and you may find confort in his promisses jonh 5 ;28\29
tonja
April 2, 2013
RIP Mr Mack. Gonna miss our talks.
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