Miami.com -- If it was Sunday in the Church of Christ at Sylvania Heights, Marcus Mahdee was likely there -- often with his hymn book open, leading the singing or teaching kindergartners the stories of the Bible.

The 20-year-old Marine lance corporal, who died in Iraq this week, will be remembered at his church today. Then he will be buried Saturday at the Barrancas National Cemetery near Pensacola.

Mahdee, described by his family and friends as a quiet, shy, patriotic kid who excelled in football, weight lifting and helping others, died Monday when a roadside bomb went off while he was in combat operations near Karmah.

Starting at age 6, Marcus tagged along with his grandfather on plumbing jobs. His then-10-year-old uncle and closest friend, Anthony, usually went along.

''They got great joy out of crawling in and out of houses and attics with me,'' said the grandfather, Linton Harris. ``That was always one of my treasured moments with him.''

Almost every night after work, Harris would take Marcus and Anthony to McDonald's, where Marcus would always get a bag of french fries and Anthony a plain hamburger. It was a ritual Harris said he will never forget.

Wanting more in life, feeling patriotic and coming from a family of six uncles with military service, Mahdee decided to join the Marines in 2004.

His grandfather tried to talk him out of it, without success.

''He wanted to step up to the plate and defend his country,'' said George Rogers, assistant pastor at Sylvania Heights. Mahdee was always willing to help teach younger kids about the faith, he said.

After a visit with the family last Christmas and an early 20th birthday celebration, Mahdee left for Iraq in early January.

He wanted to go to college and major in computers after he left the Marines, said his mother, Shirley Mabson. Her last phone call from him was three days before Mother's Day -- and four days before he was killed.

''He told me he loved me, and he was doing OK,'' Mabson said.

Fort Walton Beach High School football coach Mike Owens said his best memory happened off the field. A player who was doing a community service project to earn his Eagle Scout badge had asked his teammates to help build a wooden fence around a drainage ditch. Not many showed up, but Mahdee was one of them, Owens said.

''The old thing about the good die young,'' Owens said. ``In this case, I guess it's true. He was a good kid.''

Mahdee's grandmother also mourns.

''He had just turned 20,'' Essie Harris said. ``He hadn't even begun to live his life yet.''