PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro celebrates the life and service of Steve Mackey

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of long-time PORCH volunteer John Stephen (Steve) Mackey on Friday, June 13, 2025, at the UNC Medical Center, following a brief illness. 

Back in the days when PORCH organized its monthly food sorts out of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Steve greeted neighborhood coordinators at curbside as they were dropping off donated bags of groceries from their neighborhood food drives. Steve was part of a team that then carted the donated bags into the conference room at STM for sorting before delivering to local pantries. Whether it be the hottest, coldest, or rainiest day of the year, Steve was always there in his trademark baseball cap, green PORCH t-shirt, and warm, welcoming smile. He loved being a regular on the “carting team” that included Brook Brookhart, Wade Davis, and Tom Simon, as they swapped stories, jokes, and sometimes ribbings about college sports, national politics, and more. In all of his interactions, Steve was well known for the gentle, kind, impeccably polite, and gracious “Southern way” about him.

Steve brought to PORCH the same unwavering commitment to service and teamwork that marked his professional career. At age 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a Sergeant in Vietnam. Following his release from active duty, he attended the University of Alabama-Birmingham on the G.I. bill, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. For the remainder of his career, he served veterans in a civilian capacity as a rehabilitation counselor with the U.S. Veterans Affairs in Birmingham, Alabama. Having lived almost his entire life in Alabama, Steve credited the welcoming PORCH community for helping him make a swift transition to his new home in Chapel Hill, beginning with his first food sort in August 2013.

We extend our deepest condolences to Steve’s loved ones, especially his wife, Patty Smith. Along with Steve, Patty was a tireless PORCH volunteer, as a co-neighborhood coordinator for their Colony Woods neighbors and as a devoted volunteer at St. Thomas More. As we grieve Steve’s loss, we also celebrate his life and the lasting impact he has had on PORCH, his friends, family, and our community.

To learn more about Steve’s life, you can read his official obituary here.