Mackenzie "Mac" Bryce Welch

Mackenzie Bryce Welch, affectionately known to all as Mac, passed away on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in Gainesville, Georgia, while surrounded by loved ones after a brief, yet fierce battle with cancer. He was 35.

Mac was born in Ocala, Florida, to John and Robbie Welch. He was a unique soul that met all challenges head-on—and boy, did life give him challenges. He was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and left hand, which left him with permanent deformity of his left hand. Shortly after birth, Mac was rushed to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, where he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and thought to have the cytomegalovirus (CMV). The doctors informed his parents that he would never walk, talk, or grow to be larger than a midget. Mac proved them wrong. He was then diagnosed as deaf on his right side and hard of hearing on his left side. This took a while to discover, however, because he taught himself how to read lips, facial cues, and inflection at an incredibly early age, which helped him cheat the hearing exams. The family also discovered that Mac’s brain constantly spiked, which should have made it extremely difficult for him to carry on any sort of a conversation. You’d never know it. At 8, the family learned that the right side of Mac’s brain never formed. This was also the first time the family heard the phrase “Asperger’s.” None of this stopped Mac, who was helped by the constant push from his mother and father. Mac was our miracle and a testament to God’s power—as a doctor once said, there was no medical reason why Mac was able to do all that he did.

Despite these challenges, Mac was a light. He was passionate. He was funny. He loved to learn. Mac loved dinosaurs and animals and could tell you more than you would ever want to know about either subject. Mac loved to read and taught himself how to speed read. His love for books led him to want to write his own books. He spent the last couple years working on a novel. His family hopes to get his novel published in the future. Mac also loved movies, especially those involving fantasy and superheroes. Mac would frequently quote movies with his brother and father. His comedic timing was perfect and was fueled by a quick wit and sarcasm at a level rarely seen. His light was loved by all. Mac made friends feel like family, no matter their age or background. His passing leaves a considerable hole in all of those that knew him.

Mac is survived by his parents, John and Robbie; his brother, Ben; his sister-in-law, Bree; his niece, Bowen; his grandmother, Jamie Welch; aunts, Linda Welch and Joy Gutos; uncles, Jim Welch and Steve Gutos; and six cousins. He was preceded in death by grandparents: Al Welch and Bob and Kay Alpaugh; and his uncle, Bobby Alpaugh. His family finds comfort in knowing that he was greeted at the pearly gates by his grandparents, his uncle, friends that considered him family, and several, happy dogs, most notably, Mattie, who we expect tackled him like she did on the first day they met.

The family will celebrate Mac’s life at the Georgia Aquarium on Sunday, November 15, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. If you know you are able to attend in advance, please contact Ben or Bree to be added to the guest list as soon as possible and to receive instructions for attending. If you are not able to add yourself to the guest list in advance, you are still welcome to attend. Please reach out to Ben or Bree for attendance instructions. Those attending are encouraged to wear tie-dye—it was Mac’s favorite.

The family kindly asks that you do not send flowers. If you wish to honor Mac, please donate to a zoo, aquarium, or animal shelter/rescue of your choice. The Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., or the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga were two of his favorites. You can also donate to causes supporting those diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism, or esophageal cancer.