ADAIRSVILLE — Amazing Grace was one of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Seth Sharp’s favorite hymns. The song about forgiveness, redemption and grace was a fitting tribute to the fallen Marine during his funeral Saturday.

Sharp’s family, friends and members of the community packed Northpointe Church to remember the serviceman who was killed July 2 in Afghanistan.

Pastors Doug Hasty, Clinton Graham, Randy Gulledge and Steve Morrow all spoke not only about Sharp’s sacrifice but also about his faith.

“As I was thinking about Seth and his short life, I thank God for the young men who signed the line and protect our freedoms,” Hasty said about the 20-year-old.

“Sometimes we don’t understand why these things happen, but God was there,” he said.

Sharp’s friends, Kayleigh Turner and Ashley Burke of Carrollton, tried to remember happier moments.

They recalled a moment of horseplay at an area mall.

“We were all riding around on those mechanical toys, and so they told us to leave,” Burke said. “Because of that we had to fit 10 people into a BMW.”

Chris Alford and Jensen Hovarth said Sharp was a great guy.

“He was always giving back, and he was someone you could count on,” Hovarth said.

Alford, who played football with Sharp from the time he was 11 until high school, said he was always enthusiastic about everything he did.

“And he was fast, very fast,” Alford said of his play on the football field.

Sharp’s body was returned home Thursday, and he was laid to rest with full military honors while surrounded by loved ones at Eastview Cemetery.

Sharp was serving in Company E of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines.

Sharp joined the Marines at 17. He previously served in Iraq.

He is survived by his mother Angie Sharp and his father and stepmother Rick and Tiffany Sharp. Sharp’s fiancée was Katie McMahon of Dalton.