Clyde Calhoun Patrick III

Business man Clyde C. Patrick, III was born, raised, educated in Columbia, SC where he grew into adulthood and ultimately operated his restaurant. He loved cars, and he loved his family. He took over his father’s burger and hot dog restaurant, Mack’s located on Laurel Street, and continued to grow the business. Mack’s, originally Mack’s Cash Grocery dating back to the 1920s, was already a Columbia landmark when his veteran food-service father passed away in 2013. Clyde not only continued to grow the business, but Mack’s grew in reputation and became the winner of both The State’s Best Burger and Best Hot Dog bracket competition, as seen on the paper’s front pages. Mainly famous for the burgers and hot dogs, Mack’s customers could also be heard raving over the onion rings and especially the fries. Mack’s is known far and wide in the midlands of South Carolina.

Patrick showed tremendous business acumen. He reopened the business following a prolonged and acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he held on to his loyal team, especially manager Susan Looney, who could navigate most any phase of the everyday business. Then when inflation began taking a rapid bite out of his profits over the last two years, Patrick did everything he could to minimize the burden on his devoted customer base. He sincerely worried about his clientele, and he wanted them to continue getting the best service and the best food without overwhelming their breakfast and lunchtime budgets. Clyde loved talking to his customers, considering many of them friends, and he seemed to know hundreds of people over three generations of food consumers and service providers coming through his doors. He loved his business, and he loved talking about it.

Clyde was predeceased by his father Clyde C. Patrick, Jr. and his mother Badei Mack Patrick whose family was the original owner of the Laurel Street property and the businesses occupying the properties. He is survived by his aunt Jennifer Patrick Steinbrecher (Todd), uncles Dr. Joseph S. Mack, Jr. (Pat) and Dr. George S. Mack (Brenda) and numerous first cousins. Over the last two decades he was plagued with serious health issues, which became debilitating in the end. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to the charity of one’s choice.

A 10:00 a.m. visitation will be held on Friday, February 3, 2023 in the parish hall of Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal located at 1512 Blanding St, Columbia, SC 29201. A requiem Mass will follow in the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. The officiating priest will be The Rev. Father James Fraser Lyon, IV, and honorary pallbearers will be Susan Looney, Joe Glenn, Jenks Skipper, David Johnson, Ellis S. Mack and Joseph S. Mack III. The server will be Stephen Amodio.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dunbarfuneralhomedutchfork.com for the Patrick family.