ALEXANDRIA — Tuesday brought two fitting Larry Ginn tributes, one a well-done service and the other a community that seemed very much on the late coach's page about such things.

Which is to say that, outside of the appropriate confines of Tuesday's packed-out service at Leatherwood Baptist Church and burial-site gathering at Maple Grove Cemetery, Ginn wouldn't want much fuss.

And one didn't see much fuss around Alexandria on Tuesday.

One can drive through Alexandria and look for signs honoring Ginn, who coached the high school to three state titles in basketball and two in football in a 28-year career. One won't find such signs on businesses lined along that stretch of U.S. 431.

No signs at the high school, either … just Lou Scales Stadium, Harold "Warty" Warren Field House and the gymnasium previously named for Ginn.

The same orange Valley Cub paw print adorns the black door at the field house's side entrance.

The closest thing to an apparent acknowledgement of Ginn's Friday passing comes on Stadium Drive, where an American flag hung at half staff in one front yard Tuesday.

A sign in the yard proclaims, "Let Jesus run The Valley."

Assuming that the sign refers to the Christian savior, Ginn would say amen to that.

And he'd feel good about the community's understated reaction to his passing, because understated was his way.

So say those who eulogized the husband, father of three sons and member of the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

So says the sense of revelation that many not among Ginn's inner circle must have felt at hearing stories about him in these days following his death.

He had a chance to play in the old American Basketball Association, but hung up his Chuck Taylors, hip huggers and tube socks because he had rather not put off a life working with young people.

He picked up underprivileged players and gave them rides to summer workouts.

He paid for at least one down-the-depth-chart player to attend summer school.

The head-down, scowling sideline presence many people saw also had a sense of humor. He took a Mongoose Box with him to college, and it puffed white powder on anyone whose curiosity lured them too close.

Apparently, one had to know Ginn well or fall under his teacher-coach umbrella to know such things. He just didn't let loose of them.

Lifelong friend Bud Turner painted a picture of Ginn on Tuesday, describing a man who had more than a casual disdain for attention.

That carried right up to Ginn's end. Few outside of his inner circle knew of his recent melanoma recurrence.

Then came rumors late last week. Then came his death Friday evening.

Perhaps that's why Turner's account of Ginn being unable to open his eyes and gasping for breath in his final days drew so many sad sniffs around the church Tuesday. Apparently, the very private coach went to great lengths to keep his deteriorating health quiet.

He didn't want the attention.

Turner said Ginn could still hear, and the last thing he heard was a letter from a former player turned coach. The letter quoted Philippians 4:7: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

With that, Ginn died, but he left the Larry Ginn Way.

Based on a drive around Alexandria on Tuesday, his way will carry on as the most visible tribute to his passing. How fitting.

Joe Medley is The Star's sports columnist. He can be reached at 235-3576 or jmedley@annistonstar.com.