Mario Scott McCollum was born on June 20, 1969, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Elizabeth R. McCollum and Arthur McCollum Jr. The family later relocated to Paterson, New Jersey, and then to Camden, South Carolina, where Mario graduated from Camden High School as part of the Class of 1987. He proudly served in the United States Air Force for 11 years and later worked for the Garland Fire Department in Garland, Texas. After traveling, he ultimately made Paterson, New Jersey, his home.

Mario had a deep passion for sports from an early age and was a standout basketball player in his youth. He was also a devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Beyond sports, he loved cooking and cherished spending time with his family and friends. He will be remembered for his boisterous personality, sense of humor, generosity, intelligence, and loving spirit. We will all miss the way he lit up a room and was always the life of the party.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth R. McCollum, and his father, Arthur McCollum Jr. Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Shaila (Zane) Gray and Mario McCollum; grandchildren, Kari Gray, Zoey Gray, and Isaiah McCollum; sister, Audrey (Kenneth) Green; nephew, Kendrick (Portia) Green; niece, Shannon (Safiyyah) Green; great-niece, Audreana Green; longtime partner, Melissa Williams, and her children, Stephon and Alyssa Murray; godmother, Thomasena Timpson; lifelong friends and brothers, Lionel T. Angevine, Derrick Dixon, and Dawayne Roberts; as well as a host of loving cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

As we gather to honor Mario’s life and legacy, let us celebrate his profound impact on us all and the countless memories that will forever be etched in our hearts.