Mr. Michael “Mike” Southerland, age 53, of Chatsworth, Georgia, departed this life Tuesday, March 3, 2026. He was a 1992 graduate of Southeast High School and was a member of the Raider football team where he met his high school sweetheart the summer leading into their senior year, who would later become his wife. He went on to work as a mechanic in rug mills before starting his own business in 2002, Southerland Builders. Specializing in wood decks and the occasional fence. It was in 2009 when he decided to concentrate on only fences and began ACM Southerland Fence. It was there he found his niche. Alongside his kids, then five and seven who became his summer helpers, a tradition that continued until both of them were out of school and went to work with their Dad full-time. He taught them a great work ethic and reinforced the fact that their Dad was always on their side and they could do anything. He built a steady word-of-mouth business for the Northwest Georgia area. He was fortunate to have his Father join him just for company on the job allowing for them to restore their relationship and grow to a closer one before losing him in 2010. Something Mike was so thankful for. Mike had a natural mechanical ability to know how to take apart and fix vehicles, house appliances, and any variety of the machines he used on the job and different projects. He described it as being "mechanically inclined". Mike loved westerns, 80's action movies, 90's mobster movies, and Norm Macdonald jokes. His unique and indelible sense of humor was imparted to everyone he knew.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Cook and his father W. R. Southerland. Father and step-mother in-law; Eddie and Vicki Goss, Grandparents; Bill Young and Jesse “Dover” Young, Hardy and Alice Moses Southerland, and niece Amy White; and a very special lady Eileen Brown who claimed him as her own.

Mike is survived by his best friend and loving wife, Carrie Southerland of 34 years. Son and daughter-in-law; Timothy and Rachel Kepley of Decatur, daughter and son-in-law; Taylor (AKA Mikey, Jr.) and Matthew Johnson of Chatsworth, mother and stepfather in law; Kathy and Wink Bolding of Leesburg, AL. Brothers and sisters-in-law; Greg and Renay Southerland of Dalton, Mitchell and Monica Southerland of Centre, AL; brother-in-law Nicholas Goss and sisters-in-law Ginger Goss and Magan and Michael Outlaw all of Dalton, GA; nieces, Lauren and Ashley Whitfield of Dalton, GA, and Aunt; Dorothy Lacey of Chatsworth. Special friend Scott Brown. Many cousins, and other nieces and nephews.

In honoring Mike’s prearrangement, the family will be having a private memorial at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Rock Bridge Community Church of Dalton’s RBPM meals fund where his wife and daughter attend and serve

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Arrangements are entrusted to Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, Georgia 30721. “Your Selected Independent Funeral Home.”