He was born April 5, 1949 in Indianola, Mississippi to his parents Mavis and Harbert Marcum. He was preceded in death by his father and brothers Steve and David Joe (Penny).
He is survived by his wife Shirley, sons Britt (Lee), Blake (Julia), stepsons Chris and Matt Trippett, mother Mavis Marcum and sister Sheila Allen (Don). He loved his grandson Jackson Trippett (mom Jennifer) and granddaughter Madeleine.
Gerry retired as a Sergeant after 31 years of service with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, during which he graduated from the Drug Enforcement Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA and the Memphis Police Department Dog Academy. During his years of service he protected our community in multiple roles including narcotics (including the second largest narcotics arrest and seizure in county history at the time), felony fugitive apprehension, illegal firearms, alcohol, smuggling operations, counterfeit and fraud and homicide. He worked on Federal task forces with the DEA, ATF, FBI and Secret Service and was deputized as a Deputy US Marshall.
He also served as Director of Security at First Assembly Christian School (FACS), a role he thoroughly enjoyed and was lovingly known to students and faculty as "Sarge." He was a catalyst for preparing and implementing advanced procedures to ensure school safety.
He was a strong Christian who loved to sing in church as a soloist and a member of the choir. He is remembered for his beautiful voice that touched so many hearts at church, weddings, anniversaries and many more. Gerry was a loving husband and father and will be missed forever.
He was a man of great internal strength, not letting cancer or illness of any kind define him throughout his life and proving time and again that he was stronger than anything he faced. And he remained a beacon of hope and love, even in his last days when gifting his family another week to be with him.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 10th, 2022 at Memphis Funeral Home on Germantown Road, starting visitation at 1:00PM, with a funeral service at 2:00PM and burial immediately following.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Marcum family.
