Marshal Dekle Mize

Marshal Dekle Mize, 81, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2026. He is survived by his wife, Donna Mize, his son Gil Milton and wife Julie Milton, and his daughter Suzanne Hallman and husband Ben Hallman, and was the proud grandfather of many grandchildren.

Marshal and Donna were married on November 11th, 1977 in Austell, Georgia, and spent most of their lives together on Signal Mountain, save for their time adventuring around the world.

Marshal was born in Millen, Georgia on June 5th, 1945 and was the only child of John and Henrietta Mize. He graduated from Washington County High School and attended Georgia Southern College, working as a mechanic and as a member of NASCAR pit crews before graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering. After college Marshal entered the Air Force and served as an aircraft maintenance technician before being honorably discharged in 1972 at the rank of Captain.

Upon leaving the Air Force Marshal followed his lifelong passion for automobiles by taking a job with the Ford Motor Company as a customer service representative. He then moved to a sales and management position at Handshaker Ford in Morrow, GA, before becoming the general manager of Gene Evans Ford in Atlanta, GA. After several successful years with Gene Evans, Marshal opened his own Ford dealership, Marshal Mize Ford, on Rossville Boulevard in Rossville, GA, before expanding to its larger location on Hixson Pike in Hixson, TN. Marshal Mize Ford received numerous awards for sales and service from the Ford Motor Company, including multiple President’s Award for the highest level of customer service and being named as a Top 20 dealership in sales for the Atlanta area for 15+ years. Marshal retired from the automobile industry in 2001 to pursue various community and business interests both in the Chattanooga area and abroad.

Marshal learned to fly privately and was an accomplished aviator for half a century. He retired from piloting in 2020 after receiving an award for 50 Years of Dedicated Service in Aviation Safety from the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration.

An avid golfer, Marshal was a founding member of the Doonbeg Golf Club in County Clare, Ireland, and Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was a member of the Honors Course in Ooltewah, TN, the Kiawah Island Club, the Signal Mountain Country Club, and the Chattanooga Country Club, among others.

Marshal was an active member of the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church, serving as a church deacon, elder, and trustee. He was named the 93rd President of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga and served as a member of the Siskin Board of Directors. Marshal was awarded the Alumni of the Year Award in Private Enterprise from Georgia Southern University, and finished his civic duty as an active member of the Honors Course Board of Directors.

Marshal’s family would like to thank everyone who helped in his care, especially the doctors and nurses at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, TN.

On Wednesday, June 24th a private family service will be held at the gravesite in Metter, Georgia, to be followed by a reception for family and friends at the Excelsior Baptist Church at 1pm.

On Friday, June 26th, a celebration of Marshal’s life will be held at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church on 612 James Blvd, Signal Mountain, TN at 1pm with a reception following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Marshal Mize Memorial Fund at Georgia Southern University.