By The Catholic Week MOBILE — The McGill-Toolen Catholic High School community paid tribute to longtime assistant boys' basketball coach Mark Shelley in a pregame ceremony on Feb. 2. Shelley died on Jan. 25 at the age of 63 after a battle with COVID-19.
Players also wore "No. 24 Shelley" pregame warmups as the Yellowjackets defeated Theodore 70-47.
"Coach Shelley has poured his heart and soul into hundreds of young men's lives, whether it be here, at the park or his many years coaching CYO basketball," McT head coach Phillip Murphy said during the ceremony.
Shelley was born Oct. 31, 1957, in Mobile. He attended St. Dominic Catholic School, McGill-Toolen, Spring Hill College and graduated from Auburn University with a degree in accounting.
He was a member of Corpus Christi Parish in Mobile. Shelley and his wife, Cheryl, served as Sunday School teachers for fifth-graders.
Shelley was preceded in death by his parents but is survived by his wife, Cheryl, and sons, Ben (Haley), and Paul; his sister Virginia Elizabeth "Beth" Armstrong (Rick); loving in-laws, nephews and niece; cherished extended family members; and a host of treasured friends.
A private funeral Mass was held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, followed by interment at Mobile Memorial Gardens on Jan. 30. Suggested memorial donations can be made to the McGill-Toolen basketball program or high school, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Catholic Social Services or the Salvation Army of Mobile.