McLendon "Mac" S. DeVaughn

McLendon Sherwood DeVaughn, affectionately known as Mac, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, on January 21, 2026. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathleen Early DeVaughn, daughter, Anne Elizabeth “Bess” DeVaughn, and son, James Early DeVaughn, stepdaughter, Germaine Verhoeven, and her children, Jordan, Nate, and Lilia Verhoeven. Preceded in death by his parents, Myrtice Lott DeVaughn and James Redding DeVaughn of Wilkes County, Georgia. Also preceded in death by his loyal canine companions, Chase and Penny. Brother-in-law of J. Michael Early (Mavis), the late Robert P. Early (the late Dottie), Leah Early Held (the late Ronald), Maureen Early Dehon (Patrick), Thomas B. Early (Chrisie), Brian Early (Charlene), Colleen Early Hoover (Byron), Tess Early Larrabee (the late James), and Patricia Early Laird (the late Jim). Uncle to a host of nieces and nephews who fondly remember Mac playing football and baseball with them at family gatherings in Folsom, and lighting fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Mac was born on March 22, 1943, in Tampa, Florida, and grew up among the “piney woods of Georgia”, as he often recalled. He spent his early years in Wilkes County, Georgia, graduating from Washington-Wilkes High School, and then attended Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee, where he lettered in track, baseball, and football.

Mac attended the University of Georgia, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After graduating from Georgia State University, he began his corporate career in Atlanta, GA, working in the insurance industry.

Mac became intrigued by the newly formed Peachtree 10K Road Race in Atlanta, introducing him to distance running. After moving to New Orleans in 1977 to open a running apparel and shoe store, Phidippides, Mac began to create a world-class 10K race. In 1979, with Hibernia Bank providing funding, the first Crescent City Classic 10K Road Race was run from Jackson Square to Audubon Park in New Orleans. With The Times-Picayune joining as a co-sponsor, the race grew from 900 runners and walkers to, at one point, become the world’s largest 10K road race, with more than 30,000 participants. After 18 years of ownership and management, Mac decided to sell the race. He chose not to retire and put his business knowledge to work in the non-profit sector. Mac served as executive director of the Louisiana chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Mississippi-Louisiana chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Jekyll Island Foundation in Georgia, and retired as development director of Save Our Cemeteries, Inc., in New Orleans.

Mac was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, 4th degree, Brunswick, Georgia.

Mac was an avid college football fan, and everyone who knew him remembers his love of the Georgia Bulldogs. We will miss hearing him cheer on his favorite team: “Go Dawgs!”

A private memorial mass will be held in New Orleans. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or the Crescent City Classic Run For It Program.