A funeral service was held Sunday, Nov. 22, from the gym at Macon County High School for Mark Alton Shrum, who died Thursday, Nov. 19, after a battle with cancer. Mr. Shrum was 53.

“He was just a great human being,” said Bob Fitzpatrick, a friend of Mr. Shrum’s. “He did a lot for the community.”

Mr. Shrum was born May 18, 1956 in Clay County to parents Clifton Shrum and the late Winona Joyce Butler Shrum. Mr. Shrum married the former Lynn Franklin on Jan. 10, 1974. The couple was married for the next 35 years.

Growing up, Mr. Shrum was a football player, No. 40, for Macon County High School. While playing at MCHS, his team was the first team ever to have an undefeated football season.

After high school, Mr. Shrum continued his football career at Tennessee Tech, where he also earned teaching credentials. Mr. Shrum went on to work for the Macon County Board of Education as a teacher at MCHS.

Mr. Shrum taught at MCHS for 19 years and coached football there for 14 years. He coached the softball team there for four years.

“He enjoyed teaching and helping kids out,” said Mr. Shrum’s daughter, Dana. “He always did like to help shape lives and help them grow and help the less-fortunate kids and make sure that they knew that they mattered.”

Since 1979, Mr. Shrum owned Championship Trophies in Lafayette. Mr. Shrum enjoyed riding motorcycles and farming. He had several animals on his farm, including chickens, horses and goats. It was being out a on a tractor, though, that really made his day.

According to Fitzpatrick, Mr. Shrum would give some of the less-fortunate students from MCHS jobs working in the stalls of his barn.

“Whereas it might be worth $5,” Fitzpatrick said, “he’d give them $25 or $30. He was that type of person, and he died that type of person, caring about other people.”

Mr. Shrum’s life revolved around his friends and family, especially his grandson.

Mr. Shrum was saved at a young age at Union Camp Missionary Baptist Church and later joined Akersville Missionary Baptist Church, where he became a church deacon and was a dedicated member until his health began to fail him.

“He had very strong faith all the way until the end,” daughter Dana said.

The funeral service was officiated by Elder Terry Hagan. Coaches from the surrounding area served as honorary pallbearers. Active pallbearers were Keith Nichols, Tony Tuck, Troy Griggs, Bob Fitzpatrick, Dustin Mason, Mack Watson, Alex Shrum, Matt Jones and Mason Jones. Interment followed in the Akersville Cemetery.

In addition to wife Lynn, Mr. Shrum is survived by son, Derrick and fiancé Erin Brown of Lafayette; daughter, Dana and husband Russ Winkler of Lebanon; father, Clifton Shrum, of Lafayette; brother, Phillip Dean and wife Jill Shrum of Goodlettsville; sisters, Marilyn and husband Billy Randolph of Antioch and Priscilla and husband Patrick Watson of Brentwood; one grandson, Logan McClain Winkler; and dedicated friend until the end, Bob Fitzpatrick, of Lafayette.