ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Huey Alfred Mack Sr., a local funeral director and former Baldwin County coroner died Friday, May 15. The Rev. George Sedberry, the Rev. Ron Nunn and Father William James officiated at the “Celebration of Life” ceremony Monday.

Mack opened Mack Funeral Home in Robertsdale in 1965. He was active in the community, and was one of the founding members of the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.

“I first met Mr. Mack nearly two years ago when I asked him to help the Chamber select a ‘Man of the Year’ honoree,” wrote Marion Mason, president of the CBCC in an e-mail. “I knew right away that he was a man who had lived life fully and on his terms. The way he spoke — very straightforward, but with a sense of gentility and thoughtfulness — told me he was not your average person. I was able to get to know him better while sitting with him at lunch from time to time during the Robertsdale Rotary Club meetings. He often spoke of his work as coroner, and told me what he had learned in that position — namely, to keep his mouth shut!”

Mack was a past president, Alabama Funeral Director’s Association, past president, Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, past president, Robertsdale Rotary Club, and past Board member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes.

The Robertsdale United Methodist Church was full from the sanctuary to the choir loft and the cry room as people from all walks of life came to say “goodbye” to Mack.

“We have got to celebrate a gift from God,” said Sedberry, pastor of RUMC.

“He gave me some advice for the first funeral I did in Robertsdale,” said Nunn, “He said, ‘Stick to scripture and prayer, and you can’t get into trouble.’”

Nunn added that he forgot this advice occasionally, and Mack, while a gentleman, was unsparing in his criticism. His comments brought laughter to the audience as Nunn recounted how members of the funeral home staff would be “fired” for doing things that were not to Mack’s liking.

“There was a big heart under a gruff exterior,” said Nunn, adding that he knew Mack held burials for stillborn babies at no charge.

“You would be surprised at the number of families helped by Huey Mack,” said Nunn.

Nunn added that Mack, a native of McCullough, picked cotton as a young man and would take the train to Atmore to see a movie. He finished high school early and while in college got the idea of becoming a funeral director.

He came to Baldwin County in 1965, and became a Rotarian and a member of the RUMC.

In 1978, he was approached to replace the previous coroner, who resigned.

According to Nunn, Mack said “It would be a short term.” Mack was Baldwin County’s coroner for 28 years.

“What a public record,” said Nunn.

Mack is survived by his wife, Jean Marie Mack of Robertsdale; daughter, Linda Lou Mack of Bay Minette; son, Huey A. “Hoss” (Sherri) Mack Jr. of Silverhill; sister, Judy (Jerry) Linam of Sevierville, Tenn.; brother, Arnold (Brenda) Mack of Lake Wales, Fla.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The family requests memorial donations be made to Robertsdale United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 866, Robertsdale, AL 36567 or Robertsdale Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1133, Robertsdale, AL 36567.