James Lloyd Macdonald

James Lloyd MacDonald, age 64, of Kennesaw, GA (Formerly of Flint, MI), passed away peacefully in the arms of his family from advanced Parkinson’s & Dementia on August 19, 2023 at Northstar Place in Kennesaw, GA. He was born August 23, 1958 in Flint, MI, the son of the late Dwight & Marion MacDonald. Jim served in the United States Marine Corps from 1978-1981 where he was assigned as military police, earning a Good Conduct Medal & MT-16 Expert Rifle badge, he was the all Marine Boxing Champ, and went on to win the World Cism Games, launching his boxing career. He married Tracey Meriwether in 1982, and they had 3 children, Lindsay, Jamie, and James (Tyler) MacDonald.

Jim’s explosive boxing career lead him to 3 World Light Heavy Weight Title fights where he fought Michael Spinks, Bobby Czyz, & Michael Moorer. Our family could not be more proud of him and his Military & Boxing career. Anyone that knew Jim, knew that he was a man of great faith, his devotion to God saw him through the great personal challenges that he faced in life. Jim was a humble man and would help anyone.He spent summers with his family in Beulah, MI, on Crystal Lake. He enjoyed taking his kids on the Platte River, to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, & to Pt. Betsie in Frankfort where they would spend hours hunting for Petoskey Stones. Jim loved music, he was very competitive, he loved sports, fishing & being in the great outdoors. Anyone that knew him knew he had a wild sense of humor and would go to any length to get a good laugh out of just about anyone. He was an avid antique dealer & collector for the majority of his life.

Jim is incredibly loved by his entire family and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his children: Lindsay (Ryan) Nowitzke, Jamie MacDonald, & Tyler MacDonald, 4 grandchildren,Payton, Parker, Mayson & Evangeline, siblings: Judy (Wayne) Custer, William MacDonald & Dwight (Kathy) MacDonald. Several nieces and nephews. A graveside memorial service will be held in Benzonia, MI, on Oct 21, 2023. Please contact family of Jim if you wish to send flowers for his memorial service. Contributions can be made to the Fisher House, an organization that provides a home away from home for families of hospitalized veterans at no additional cost. Send donations in honor of James L. MacDonald to: Fisher House Foundation, Inc., 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850-5168 or online at: https://fisherhouse.org/