Julian H. McKenzie, age 90, passed away peacefully, at Memorial Health University Medical Center on Thursday, August 20, 2026, just five days shy of his 91st birthday. He was born on August 25, 1935, at the McKenzie Farm in Odum, Georgia to the late Julia Long McKenzie and Theodore S. McKenzie Sr. and moved to Savannah at an early age. His military service was with the 118th Field Artillery, serving three years in the National Guard. 

Julian was raised in the Old Fort area of Savannah, around Washington Square. Attended local schools, played local sports and graduated from Savannah High School in 1954. He studied at Armstrong Junior College and Georgia Tech and was a registered professional civil engineer and surveyor. He worked with several construction firms during his school years and started his working career with the U.S.  Geographical Survey in the study of underground water for the general areas of Georgia and South Carolina. He later transferred to the Savannah District Corps of Engineers, working in the Engineering section. He worked several jobs as assigned and later as project manager for design and construction at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After several years later he transferred to the Middle East Division with the Corps of Engineers for work in Saudia Arabia for a three-year contract. Which included Muscat Oman and North Yemin for Airport rehab and new construction. Julian had nearly fifty years of engineering, design, construction engineering and inspection experience twenty-five of which were with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. After retiring from government service, Julian started another series of work with a private engineering firm as a contract employee for highway and airport projects in South Carolina and Georgia. His work included a new airport for Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, which included a new terminal, parking apron, control tower, and runway taxing extension for a total of two years. Other contract projects included several months in the Philippines for new construction of port facilities and roadways. The overseas work also extended to a project in British Guyana, South America for four and half year stay in Georgetown, Guiana, where his work included rebuild of coastal highway and airport reconstruction. It seems like Julian could not stop working. 

New project on his return to the USA from overseas included small country airport in Georgia and South Carolina which included runway extension, taxiways and airport lighting to meet FAA criteria this amounted to the twelve projects for construction engineering and inspection. In January 2006 Julian went on a search for the "Cistern Cornerstone" from the Old Volunteer Washington Fire Company in downtown Savannah. After searching for over a year it was found in the backyard of an old friend. He then went in front of City of Savannah Councilman to get an approval to have a Monument built in their honor. After approval he designed and built this monument with his own money. This Monument was dedicated to The Brave Fireman of the Fire Station No.1 who also served as mentors and role models for the youth of the "Old Fort Section" of Savannah where he and his brothers grew up. Ceremony was on October 14, 2007. This monument is located in Washington Square in downtown Savannah. Julian was a member of Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, Fenian Society and was Grand Marshall in 2008, life member of the Knights of Columbus 631, and 4th degree St. Patrick Day Parade Committee, past member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and National Society of Professional Engineers. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia McKenzie. Groover; and siblings, Theodore S. McKenzie Jr., and Edward McKenzie.

His family includes two daughters, Lisa McKenzie and Leslie McKenzie; his grandchildren, Christopher Hudson, Michael Groover, Suzanne Groover, and Amber Shea Brinson; great grandchildren; Keller Groover and Evan Groover, Fiona Hudson, and Flora Hudson; and several nieces, and nephews. 

The graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Catholic Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at 12 noon at American Legion Post 154 on Tybee Island, GA.