1936
Coach
2011
Coach Gene "Mac" Mcbee
September 6, 1936 — February 2, 2011
Coach Gene "Mac" McBee, age 74, a resident of Sunnyside Drive in Columbia, passed away Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at Maury Regional Medical Center.
Born September 6, 1936 in Limestone Co., AL, son of the late Gus and Odell Law McBee and husband of the late JoAnne Hollis McBee. He was a graduate of Berrien Springs High School in Michigan and retired as the principal of Summertown High School. He was a member of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church since 1970.
Coach McBee played baseball and basketball at the University of North Alabama and played minor league baseball. He had a masters degree from Western Michigan. He moved to Marietta, GA and coached at Sprayberry High School. Then he moved to Toccoa, GA and coached at Stephens County High. From Toccoa, he moved to Columbia and coached at Columbia State until 1980. While coaching at Columbia State, he was influential in taking his teams to many National Tournaments during his 10 year tenure. Afterwards, he became the vice principal and basketball coach at Summertown High School. Coach Mac was well known and a highly respected basketball coach and teacher. He worked with and mentored some of the biggest names in basketball history; Jerry West of the Lakers, Dave Cowens of the Celtics, Bobby Knight of Indiana, Frank McGuire of South Carolina, Wilt Chamberlain of the Lakers and Clara Bee. Coach was well known for telling stories and playing his guitar at basketball camps throughout the southeast. He loved coaching, singing, dancing and playing his guitar for his children, grandchildren and all of their friends on the basketball teams.
Coach McBee is survived by his children: Betsy McBee Walker of Columbia, Bonnie Scott Bak of Muscle Shoals, AL and Pete Christy McBee of Green Hill, AL; a brother: J.V. McBee of Elkhart, IN; grandchildren: Kacy Walker of Louisville, KY, Zac Walker of Knoxville, TN, Josey Bak, Calvin Bak and Wyatt, Bak, all of Muscle Shoals, AL, Will McBee and Mimi McBee, both of Green Hill, AL. He was preceded in death by three sisters and a brother.
Funeral services for Coach Mac will take place at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at the Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, 2712 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia, TN, with Rev. Bob Vassar and Dr. Robert Gamble officiating. Committal services will be held at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Iron City, TN.
The family will receive friends on Friday, February 4 from 3:00 to 8:00 PM and from 12:00 Noon until service time at the church.
Pallbearers will be Zac Walker, Brian Long, Mark Jent, Jason Burleson, Ed Steadman and Stan Curtis. Honorary pallbearers will be the Adult Men s #1 Class of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church.
Williams Funeral Home of Columbia is assisting the family with their services.
Born September 6, 1936 in Limestone Co., AL, son of the late Gus and Odell Law McBee and husband of the late JoAnne Hollis McBee. He was a graduate of Berrien Springs High School in Michigan and retired as the principal of Summertown High School. He was a member of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church since 1970.
Coach McBee played baseball and basketball at the University of North Alabama and played minor league baseball. He had a masters degree from Western Michigan. He moved to Marietta, GA and coached at Sprayberry High School. Then he moved to Toccoa, GA and coached at Stephens County High. From Toccoa, he moved to Columbia and coached at Columbia State until 1980. While coaching at Columbia State, he was influential in taking his teams to many National Tournaments during his 10 year tenure. Afterwards, he became the vice principal and basketball coach at Summertown High School. Coach Mac was well known and a highly respected basketball coach and teacher. He worked with and mentored some of the biggest names in basketball history; Jerry West of the Lakers, Dave Cowens of the Celtics, Bobby Knight of Indiana, Frank McGuire of South Carolina, Wilt Chamberlain of the Lakers and Clara Bee. Coach was well known for telling stories and playing his guitar at basketball camps throughout the southeast. He loved coaching, singing, dancing and playing his guitar for his children, grandchildren and all of their friends on the basketball teams.
Coach McBee is survived by his children: Betsy McBee Walker of Columbia, Bonnie Scott Bak of Muscle Shoals, AL and Pete Christy McBee of Green Hill, AL; a brother: J.V. McBee of Elkhart, IN; grandchildren: Kacy Walker of Louisville, KY, Zac Walker of Knoxville, TN, Josey Bak, Calvin Bak and Wyatt, Bak, all of Muscle Shoals, AL, Will McBee and Mimi McBee, both of Green Hill, AL. He was preceded in death by three sisters and a brother.
Funeral services for Coach Mac will take place at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at the Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, 2712 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia, TN, with Rev. Bob Vassar and Dr. Robert Gamble officiating. Committal services will be held at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Iron City, TN.
The family will receive friends on Friday, February 4 from 3:00 to 8:00 PM and from 12:00 Noon until service time at the church.
Pallbearers will be Zac Walker, Brian Long, Mark Jent, Jason Burleson, Ed Steadman and Stan Curtis. Honorary pallbearers will be the Adult Men s #1 Class of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church.
Williams Funeral Home of Columbia is assisting the family with their services.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Coach Gene "Mac" Mcbee, please visit our flower store.
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