McMahon, Michael Alan
Dr. Michael “Mike” Alan McMahon, 77, of Pearisburg, VA., went to be with the Lord on Monday, September 7, 2026. Mike was born on November 6, 1948, in Petersburg, VA, and was a son of the late Hugh William McMahon and Katherine Louise Jones McMahon.
Mike was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, physician, veteran, missionary, and above all a devoted servant of God. He leaves behind a family who adores him, a community he faithfully served, and more stories, laughter, and memories than could ever fit into an obituary.
Mike lived a life centered around faith, family, and service. His faith in God was the most important part of who he was and how he lived. He believed in caring for others, helping those in need, and using the gifts God gave him to make a difference in the lives of those around him. Mike’s life was an example of how faith is often best demonstrated not simply through words, but through how we love and care for one another.
He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force and later answered another calling—to care for others through medicine. For many years, Mike dedicated himself to the people of Giles County as a physician. His patients were never simply names on a chart. He knew them, cared about them, worried about them, and considered it a privilege to serve the community he called home.
His love for service reached far beyond his own community. Guided by his faith and calling as a physician, Mike participated in medical missions in Russia, Cameroon, Sudan, Chad, Moldova, and Siberia. He used the gifts God gave him to provide medical treatment while spreading the word of Jesus to some of the vulnerable populations in the world.
But as proud as Mike was of his service and his career, the roles that mattered most to him were husband, Daddy, and Pop-Pop.
He shared his life with his beloved wife, Drema, who stood beside him through all of life’s joys, challenges, adventures, and more than a few medical misadventures. He was immensely proud of his daughters, Morgan (David) and Caitlin (Jorge), and loved his grandchildren, Carter and Aurora Rose, beyond measure. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Rose Dunford, sister-in-law, Terri Dunford, brother-in-law, Brian Dunford (Martha) and brother, Terry McMahon.
Mike loved his Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) family and his local church, where his faith, friendships, and commitment to serving God continued to grow. He treasured the simple things that made a good life: fellowship, time with family and friends, and sitting around reminiscing about the “good ole days.” He especially cherished his long-time friends, Chris Kitchens and Ronnie Meador, his hiking buddies, and dear friends and medical partners, Dr. Ken Walker and Dr. Jose Rivero. While sharing stories from years of friendship, medicine, hiking, or simply life, those relationships meant the world to Mike. And, as anyone who knew him could attest, there was rarely a good story that did not get a little better with each retelling.
Those closest to Mike knew that loving him also meant knowing his wonderful sense of humor. No matter what life threw at him, he could usually find a reason to laugh. When asked how he was feeling, he was known to respond, “I’m doing pretty well for an old guy” or “I look great until you look under the hood.” And many mornings began with the same answer when someone asked how he was doing: “Just peachy.”
Over the years, Mike survived so many health scares that his family became convinced that the usual nine lives simply didn’t apply to him. He seemed to have been issued about 65 of them, and true to form, he made very good use of every single one.
Mike was the person his family called—for advice, reassurance, a laugh, or sometimes simply because hearing his voice made everything seem a little more okay. His absence leaves a space that can never truly be filled.
His family will miss his voice, his sayings, his humor, his wisdom, and the comfort of simply knowing he was there. Most of all, they will miss the man who loved them so completely and who made their lives better simply by being part of them.
There is tremendous sadness in saying goodbye, but there is also tremendous peace in knowing where Mike is today. His family knows unequivocally that he is with God—healthy, whole, happy, and free from the body that gave him so much trouble over the years. After a lifetime of serving his country, his community, his family, and his Lord, a good and faithful servant has gone home.
And if we could ask Mike today how he’s doing, there is little doubt what his answer would be:
“Just peachy.”
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 1pm at the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg, Va., with Pastor Mac Miller, Charles Henderson, and Pastor Craig Whittaker officiating. The family will receive friends at the Pearisburg First United Methodist Church Friday, September 11th, from 5 – 7pm.
In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or NEMS Helping Hands Weekend Backpack Program. Donations can be mailed to PO Box 355, Pearisburg, VA, 24134.
The family is being served by Givens Funeral Home in Pearisburg, (540) 921-1650; online at givensfuneralhome.com.
