 Mackie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Dillard University and a Master of nursing degree from Emory University and taught Community Health Nursing on the faculties of Emory, Dillard, Louisiana State University, and Loyola University in New Orleans.She earned the Ph.D. degree from Emory in May 1996.Alfred and Mackie have one son, Alfred II and daughter-in-law Lisa; and one daughter, Angela Renee and son-in-law Tyrone; and four grandchildren; Alfred III (Trey), Justin Douglass Norris, Mark David Johnson and Faith Rachelle Johnson.