The son of Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, Max Barry, had no official title but you'd never know it by looking at the dignitaries who arrived for his memorial service to pay their respects.
Governors and former mayors, the District Attorney, close friends and complete strangers made up the crowd outside the Belcourt theater Tuesday.
His death was a loss that touched many throughout the city.
"The loss for a parent for a friend for a city is unspeakable," said former Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell
Purcell saw his share of tragedies while in office but nothing like this.
"Nashville was there, Nashville was all around this family," he added.
The pain was visible on Mayor Barry's face as she and her husband Bruce left their only son's memorial service. Yet in her actions, all politics aside, admirable courage.
As she walked down the sidewalk, she first turned to the media and mouthed the words 'thank you.' Then, as she continued on toward Hillsboro village, the mayor stopped and thanked every police officer she encountered.
"The city should let Megan be Megan and not demand she be mayor right now," former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said.
Max's death left a great number of this community in shock but his parents instead of retreating into their grief have decided that this is the way they will move forward.
