Mace Lee Wallace, Jr., 73, was born on June 14, 1945 in Portsmouth, VA to the late Mace and Hattie Mae (Sartor) Wallace. He was the fourth of seven children.
By family members and friends, he was fondly called Bud. He attended public schools in Portsmouth, VA and graduated from I.C. Norcom High School in 1963. He served in the U.S. Navy, during that period, he served one tour of duty in Vietnam and was blessed to return home safely.
As a young man, he was employed as a Construction Worker alongside his father in the Washington Metropolitan Area and was a member of Union 74. While in the area, he attended Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA. After years as a Corrections Officer, Mace retired from the State Penitentiary in VA.
Being well dressed was important to him and he was known for being "dressed to the nines" as well as showing up in the latest styles. Mace enjoyed cooking and sharing his ideas on how to prepare dishes that would melt in your mouth. Over Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, he smiled as he told interesting stories about his days as a Corrections Officer.
Mace was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Amanda Traylor.
He leaves to cherish his memory four sisters - Patricia Wallace of Virginia Beach, VA, Bettie Carter (Joseph) of Louisville, KY, Beverly Traylor (Bernard) and Denise Wallace of Chesapeake, VA; one brother Melvin Wallace (Gloria) of Clinton, MD; one aunt - Roberta Strickland of Norwood, OH; three nieces - Stefania Traylor, Morgan Bridgett and Ryan Bridgett; three nephews - Melvin Wallace Jr., Derek Carter, and Joseph Carter; one great niece - Shatara Hill and one great nephew - Melvin Kinnard; and a host of cousins (CA, IL, KY, MD, MI, NY, OH, SC, and VA); and two close friends Gloria Brinkley of Wilmington, NC and David Hayes of Daytona Beach, FL.
Follow us on Facebook at Beach Funeral and Cremation Services.