Reverend Rom Alexander Shumate

Chesterfield, SC Reverend Rom Alexander Shumate, age 81, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at the home of his daughter. The Service of Worship and Thanksgiving to God for the life and legacy of Reverend Shumate will be 2:00 PM Saturday, March 29, 2025 from the Chapel of Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home. The family will greet friends immediately following the service at the funeral home.

Rom Alexander Shumate was born on September 9th, 1943, to Ecko Geno and Grace Brown Shumate. He was the second youngest of five children and possibly his mother’s greatest joy and frustration, at once. Rom had a knack for finding trouble and where there was none, he brought his own. He determined early on that rule-following was not in his wheelhouse, and at 15 he moved from his childhood home into his own small apartment, doing carpentry work for rent and provisions.

At 17, he convinced his mother to sign permission for him to join the United States Navy where he would discover both his love for sailing the ocean and just how much he would miss the small mountain home and the rules from which he worked so hard to escape. Rom would excel in the Navy and was stationed first on an 8-diesel engine, Patrol-Torpedo boat where he became an accomplished sailor. He would soon be reassigned to Security detail within the White House and the Pentagon prior to becoming permanent crew on then-President John F. Kennedy’s personal watercraft, The Honey Fitzgerald.

After serving under 3 US Presidents, Rom returned home to Wilkes County, NC where he and Barbara met on a blind date and were married 3 months later. They went on to have three daughters and enjoyed a loving union until Barbara’s passing on February 18, 2024

During their life together, Rom held several different titles; roles similar only in the shared interest of being a helper. He has been a sailor, a carpenter, a salesman, a teacher, a fireman, and an officer – but throughout his life, he has been a minister. In 1985, he graduated from Fruitland Baptist College where he received his undergraduate in Theology. He helped start a small church in Moravian Falls before moving to South Carolina where he and his family would make lifelong friends and later on, a forever home.

Rom has ministered to the sick and the broken, those hurting and those rejoicing. He tells us that he has buried more friends than he cared to count but remembered every funeral he’d ever performed. He’d written the names of each couple he married in one of his many bibles and remembers each child he had the privilege of baptizing or dedicating to church family.

His last position and the one from which he retired was as Lieutenant with Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Department. He was respected by his teammates and fellow officers and had a compassionate heart for those incarcerated under his care. His empathetic nature and willingness to listen gave him the opportunity to share kindness and God’s love in surprising places. Rom always said we are given the opportunity; it is up to us to seize it.

He taught all his children and grandchildren to pray and give thanks, but never to sit idly by, and to put feet to your prayers. He showed us that God is loving and forgiving, and that we should be also. He believed in the goodness of people and in second chances and taught that we should do the same, but to remember that sometimes “enough’ s enough” and we don’t always get what we want.

He is probably as well-known for his devious sense of humor as he was for being a phenomenal speaker. He was often sought for speaking engagements and always drew a crowd when he shared his thoughts on bible passages; he maintained that creating an environment where the Bible interpretation was made accessible and understandable was paramount to spreading God’s love and message.

Rom cared for his wife Barbara at home for several years while she endured a lengthy and difficult battle with cancer. He’d assured her that she would never be alone, and his daughters and grandchildren made certain that he was comfortable and protected during his final days at home as well. They learned a great deal about love by watching the way their father treated their mother, and Rom was careful to make certain his children knew their own value, never letting anyone undercut their worth.

His life story reflects a remarkable journey of service, love, and resilience. From his early defiance of rules to becoming a dedicated servant to others, both in his professional and personal life, he touched many hearts. His deep faith, his caring for family, and his willingness to help others speak volumes about his character. He leaves behind a legacy that will be cherished for generations. One of love, strength, faith, and a belief that sometimes “you gotta kick up a little dirt”. He will be missed dearly by his daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and anyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Rom was preceded in death by his wife Barbara of 59 years, his parents Eck and Grace, and sister Joyce Adams.

He leaves behind his daughters Terri (Michael) Absher of Roaring River, NC, Michelle Shumate of Chesterfield, SC, and Heather (Stuart) Davis of Conway, SC. Grandchildren: Chad/April Absher, Elisha (Alex) Moody, Alex (Tory) Hutcherson, Brady Hutcherson, Jaymee Hutcherson, Kaycee Hutcherson, David Martin, Kathryn Martin, Ellis Davis. Great grandchildren: Hunter, Chloe, Evie, Waylon, Cash, Xander, JC, Alexia. Brothers, Robert and Ralph Shumate and sister Betty Sink, all of North Carolina; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of adopted family who lovingly referred to him as “Pa” and/or “Preacher”.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to your local homeless shelter, AA Chapter, or cancer research organization of your choice.

Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Shumate family.