Dr. William John O’Shaughnessey, Jr.

Dr. William John O’Shaughnessey Jr. died peacefully at the age of 92 on December 31, 2022. Dr. O’Shaughnessey was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Doris Webb and William John O’Shaughnessey. The family moved to Macon when he was five years old. John graduated from Lanier High School and attended Emory University. He received his MD degree from Tulane University. He interned at Philadelphia General Hospital, and then served two years as a Captain and Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force. His residency in internal medicine was completed at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. In 1955 he married Marjorie Becker of Brookhaven, Mississippi, and they moved to Macon in 1961 where John practiced with Internal Medicine Associates. A much beloved internist, he was devoted to his patients.

During his medical career, John held several positions of leadership in his profession. He served as Chief of Staff of both the Medical Center of Central Georgia and the Middle Georgia Hospital. He was President of the Bibb County Medical Society from which he received the Distinguished Service Award in 1996.

In addition to his leadership roles in medicine, he was active in the community. He was the 1998 Chairman of the Cherry Blossom Festival. He served as President of the Boards of Trustees of Mount De Sales Academy, Idle Hour Country Club, and the Saint Joseph Parish Council. He was also a past member of Macon Civic Club.  For years a highlight of the annual Civic Club Show was his monologue “The Year in Review.”  He enjoyed people and their stories and always had a joke to share.  After retirement, he was also a member and past President of the Macon Rotary Club, a member of the US Closed Golf Association and the Macon Palaver Club. John was active in establishing the Macon Volunteer Clinic and worked there for many years.

John was an accomplished sailor and enjoyed many day and overnight sails along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. He made multiple crossings from the Florida coast to the Bahamas. The stories of these adventures got better and better over the years. He loved spending Thanksgiving in Macon and Fourth of July in St. Simons every year for decades with all of his children and grandchildren.

Preceding John in death, in addition to his parents, was his brother, David O'Shaughnessey. He is  survived by his wife Marjorie and his five children: Margaret O’Shaughnessey, Mary Stone (John), John O’Shaughnessey, III (Gena), Kathleen Swann (Hayes), and Michael O’Shaughnessey (Clare); eleven grandchildren: Tippins Stone Kitchen, Mary Katherine Stone Bouldin, Elizabeth Stone Gerding, Will O’Shaughnessey, David O’Shaughnessey, Becker O’Shaughnessey, Sarah Elizabeth Swann Alvey, Wayland Swann, Maggie Swann, Jamey O’Shaughnessey and Alex O'Shaughnessey; and fifteen great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to Mount de Sales Academy (851 Orange Street, Macon, GA 31201), Saint Joseph Catholic Church (830 Poplar St. Macon, GA 31201) or the Macon Volunteer Clinic. (376 Rogers Avenue Macon, Georgia 31204)

Services will be held at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 9, 2023, and a visitation will be held on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Hart’s at the Cupola from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Burial will be private at Riverside Cemetery.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s at the Cupola, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 6324 Peake Rd, Macon, GA 31210 has charge of the arrangements.

St. Joseph Catholic Church
830 Poplar St., Macon GA 31201
Tel: 1-478-745-1631
Email: church@st-joseph.cc
Web: https://stjosephmacon.org/

Mount De Sales Academy
851 Orange Street, Macon GA 31201
Tel: 1-478-751-3240

Macon Volunteer Clinic
376 Rogers Avenue, Macon GA 31204
Tel: 1-478-755-1110