Douglas McArthur Brantley was born April 10, 1942 in Johnson County, Georgia. Mac's parents, Charlie and Rubye, farmed in middle Georgia for over fifty years and Mac learned early to work hard and to love and respect the land.

He was active in the life of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church on the Wrightsville Circuit and in the district youth program. He attended Young Harris College (1960-1962) and was a leader in several organizations. He answered the call to preach and was president of the Georgia Methodist Student Movement. He met a fellow student, Vicky McCoy, and they were married in 1963.

Mac was graduated from Georgia Southern College with a degree in history in 1964, and attended Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois before graduating from Candler School of Theology in 1968.

Mac began his ministry in the South Georgia Conference at the Garfield Circuit in 1963 but was ordained an elder in the North Georgia Conference in 1970. He served MidwayDouglasville, Cliftondale, Forest Park, Eatonton, Bremen, Elberton and Jonesboro First before being name district superintendent of the Dalton District in 1994. Mac was named Director of the Conference Connectional Ministries in 1998 and served in that role until he retired in 2004.

Mac loved the church and dedicated his life to it. He worked to advance diversity and the causes of peace and justice through his ministry. As an Eagle Scout himself, he promoted scouting and once served as scoutmaster. Mac never sought to bring attention to himself but quietly sought to serve God wherever he was. Yet he always found time to read, to garden, to write poetry and to tell stories to his grandchildren.

Mac died on February 14, 2006, after a long and courageous battle with colon cancer. He faced each day with hope and thanksgiving and leaves a legacy of integrity and compassion.