Michael Stephen McNair Sr.

Michael Stephen McNair, Sr. passed away peacefully and surrounded by friends and family on March 18, 2026. A native son of Alabama, Mike was born September 30, 1952, in Jackson Hospital, Montgomery, and lived his entire life in Midtown Mobile. Mike was preceded in death by his parents William and Norma Jean (Hickman) McNair.

A lifelong advocate for Public Education in Mobile, Mike was a graduate of Westlawn Elementary, Sidney Phillips Junior High School, and Murphy High School (’70). As a student at Murphy, he was a member of the marching band where he played clarinet. As a way to give back to the school that meant so much to him, Mike served as a founding member of the Murphy Alumni Association, where he worked to establish the Murphy Hall of Fame for distinguished alumni. As a recognition for his decades of service as a Band Booster Officer (1990-1994) and Murphy Alumni Association Officer (1996-2026), he received the Murphy High School Lifetime Service Award in 2021 and was inducted into the Murphy Hall of Fame in 2025.

A musician at heart and an attorney by trade, Mike was a long-time member of the Mobile Symphonic Pops Band and the choir of Spring Hill Baptist Church. While performing as the clarinet Section Leader, Mike also served as the President of the Symphonic Pops from 2003-2004 and 2015-2016. The preparation and performance of “This Is Christmas,” an annual Christmas concert and worship service, was undoubtedly his favorite choral performance, proven by thirty-nine consecutive years of joining the ensemble. Mike was a dedicated member of Spring Hill Baptist Church for over forty years and served as a Sunday School teacher and Deacon.

Mike was active in various civic organizations, including the Exchange Club of Mobile and the Boy Scouts of America. As a member of the Exchange Club, he served as the President of the local chapter and as the District Director for Alabama. Over his many decades as a member of Troop 147 (St. Paul’s), Mike served as Scoutmaster, Troop Committee Chairman, achieved the distinction of Vigil Honor in the Order of the Arrow, received the Good Shepherd Award, District Award of Merit, and guided his two sons to the rank of Eagle Scout. Scouting also led to his interest in backpacking the Appalachian Trail. Starting in 1988 through 2024, Mike hiked sections of the trail, achieving a total of 1,900 miles and hiking in fourteen states stretching from Maine to Georgia.

A graduate of the University of South Alabama (’75), Mike was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and would remain an active Board Member of the South Alabama Alumni Association and regular attendee of Jag sporting events. He continued his education at the University of Alabama School of Law and received a Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in Taxation. While in Law School he was inducted into the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society. Mike joined the Bar Association in 1978 and would practice law in Mobile for 48 years. His dedication to the University of Alabama was obvious by anyone who met him, reflected in his attendance of 500+ Alabama football games over the course of his life. Mike was a member of the Farrah Law Society, Mobile Chapter of the Alabama Alumni Association, National Alumni Association, Red Elephant Club, and Million Dollar Band Association.

Mike is survived by his wife Susan (married 53 years), his sons Stuart and Stephen (Lila), daughter Mary Michael, grandson Charles, and some of the most loyal and dedicated friends that he considered family. His family extends their sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone who visited Mike in the hospital, offered prayers, and the love shown toward him and the McNair family during his illness.

Services will be held in his honor and memory at Spring Hill Baptist Church on March 28, 2026. A visitation will begin at 10:00 am followed by a service at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made the Spring Hill Baptist Church Music Ministry (2 S. McGregor Ave. Mobile, AL 36608) or the Mobile Symphonic Pops Band (P.O. Box 9552, Mobile, AL 36691).