Maxwell Pace

Maxwell Pace, 79, a 30 year resident of the MS Gulf Coast, was called Home on Sunday, December 25, 2016. He was born in Hattiesburg, MS on February 28, 1937, to Thomas Barnard Pace and Louise Brantley Pace.
Maxwell was educated in the Hattiesburg Public School system, graduating from HHS with his beloved class of 1955. While attending the University of Southern MS, Maxwell began a 40 year banking career. He was associated with First MS National Bank, First Federal Savings and Loan Assn., Citizens Bank of Hattiesburg, and First Savings and Loan Assn of Warren, Arkansas. He helped organize Louisiana's first stock savings and loan, First City Savings & Loan Association, in Baton Rouge, in 1981. He received national recognition for its profitability in the Wall Street Journal and an interview with the Wall Street Radio News.
On the MS Gulf Coast, Mr. Pace was associated with Gulf National Bank and Keesler Federal Credit Union where he organized and developed their mortgage loan departments. Following his retirement from banking, he went on to work with his wife, Brenda, in the insurance industry with Allstate in Gulfport.
During his career he served in several civic organizations including the YMCA, Salvation Army, SE MS Air Ambulance Council, Hattiesburg Public School Board of Trustees, Jaycees, Pine Burr Area Boy Scout Council, and Board of Directors for the Forrest County Chapter of the USM Alumni Assn.
Maxwell was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Gulfport where he faithfully worshiped and served as an elder.
Maxwell is survived by his wife and best friend, Brenda Smith Pace, and children, David Maxwell Pace, Dr. James Michael (Julie) Pace, Stephen Thomas Pace, Matthew "Shane" (Amy) Strong, and Summer D. (Reed) Hewes; Grandchildren, Brittany (John) Nicholson, Thomas Pace, Michael Pace, Chelsea Pace, Josie (Dr. Kenneth) Bull, Alex Strong, Hannah Trice, Cruise Pace, Matthew Pace, and Smith Hewes; Great grandchildren, Eli Nicholson, Gianna Bull, Jayceon Yarborough, and Maddox Bull.
Mr. Pace is also survived by his brother, Dr. Brantley (Ann) Pace of Monticello, MS, and his sister, Mary Lou (Woody) Dabbs of Oxford, MS, and a host of "favorite" nieces and nephews.
Maxwell was a loving grandfather and a loyal, caring friend to so many.
He was a master story teller and an encyclopedia of jokes and trivia. He could talk all day about cars, guns, airplanes, or WWII and love every minute of it!
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Gulfport, where friends may visit from 9:30 a.m. until the service. A graveside service will take place at 3:00 p.m. at Highland Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church of Gulfport, 5005 Lawson Ave., Gulfport, MS, 39507.