Cecil David Mitchell
May 1, 1931 ~ August 3, 2010
Resided in:
Fairview, NC
Cecil David Mitchell, 79, of Sharon Rd., Fairview, died on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at the Elizabeth House, Four Season Hospice, in Flat Rock.
A native of Buncombe Co., Mr. Mitchell was a son of the late Lawrence H. and Burch Patterson Mitchell. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Donella, who died in 1995; sister, Doris Moody; and brother, Lawrence H. Mitchell.
Mr. Mitchell was a graduate of Biltmore High School and attended Asheville-Biltmore College on a football scholarship. He retired from Bell South.
He was a member and former President of the Telephone Pioneers, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his volunteer work, which included being a volunteer counselor at the Blue Bird Camp for Cancer Patients at Camp Bonclarken in Hendersonville.
He was a past President of the Biltmore Lion's Club, a member of the Biltmore Lodge, and member of the VFW. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
He was a 50-year member of Reed Memorial Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon, a Sunday School teacher, and a choir member.
Mr. Mitchell is survived by his wife, Sara Ruth Stokes Duncan; son, Phillip David Mitchell, of St. Louis, MO; daughters, Donna Morrow (Tom), of Fairview, Pamela Bustin, of Mars Hill, and Laura Harbison (David), of Richmond, VA;; step-daughter Sandra Jean Thompson, of Austin, TX; sisters, Virginia Arthur, of Asheville, and Margaret Clark, of Marshall; six grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
A graveside service for Mr. Mitchell will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Tracy Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, in Hendersonville. Prior to the service, friends are invited to meet at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, 72 Long Shoals Rd., at 10:15 a.m. to form a procession to the cemetery.
A memorial service will follow later in the day at 1:00 p.m. at Reed Memorial Baptist Church. Rev. Randy Melton, assisted by Rev. Fred Morris, will officiate both services.
His family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Four Season Hospice, Elizabeth House, 571
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
My heart and love goes out to you Aunt Ruth and Uncle Mitch’s family. Since he came into your life I know he loved you very much. He was such a wonderful person. When I met him, I could see the love he had for you and the love he freely gave to the rest of us as we were his own. We told you he was a keeper! He will be surely missed. I am very honored I was able to know and love him.
We are sorry for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you!!
To Peteo’s family You are in our thoughts and prayers. Coy,Colleen and Dawn Calhoun (Emory Mitchell Jr.’s Grandparenets and aunt)
To David,
So sorry to hear about your Dad. Sounded so much like my Dad, who was also a Baptist & a Telephone Pioneer from Asheville. Hope you can find some comfort if you stay with my Aunt Polly, in David’s old room. Forgive me if it’s now too girly for you…but it’s full of love.
Dear Virginia,
I not sure if you will know me by name, but I worked at the Information Desk at St. Jo and am the daughter of Margaret Chastain.
I enjoyed our talks so much during your visits. I am so sorry for the loss of your brother. I know how much you cared for him. I am sure your daily visits to him were a blessing for him. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Lynn Crossman
I am sorry for your lose. Cecil was a very kind person I knew from church I will miss him.
We will remember Cecil as a dear friend in Christ with a smile on his face. He was an encourager and everyone will miss him tremendously.
Another of God’s Angels has gone home. While we will miss his friendship we rejoice in having had him in our life.
God Bless,
Mike Atkinson
Dear Sara,
We are thinking of you and hold you in our prayers. The friendship between you, Mitch, and my Mom and Dad was so special over so many years! You know how much you both mean to Mom and I will bring her to the memorial service on Saturday. For now Mom and I send you our love and will miss Mitch’s smiling face and treasure the times all of you shared together. We love you so much and grieve with you. Love, Patty and Mae
Harry,
We are extremely sorry about your loss. Please know you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
With love-
Nathan, Mary, Lillian, and Stella
Pedo, sorry to learn of your death. Enjoyed the many visits & war stories we shared over the years. Glad our daughters were friends & thereby allowed us to be friends.
God’s blessings & love to the family.
Ray Evans
So sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts & prayers are with you all
Sara, Virginia and family with sadness for all of us we will miss Cecil, but we know he is in his Heavenly Home and we rejoice. His presence at Reed Memorial will be missed. Our prayer is that we all will be with him again one day.
Dear Virginia and Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Cecil’s death. He was such a good man, always bringing a smile to those around him. May God give you strength and comfort.
In His Love,
Gretchen
To the Mitchell Family:
We grew up knowing ‘Pedo’ when we went to Biltmore High School. ‘Pedo was always fun to be around because he could make you laugh even though you didn’t feel like it. He was a good friend to all. We shall miss him very much. Please know that all of you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sorry we will not be able to attend the services; however, we will be lifting all of you up in our prayers.
In fond remembrance,
Tommy and Jessie Koontz
Dear David, Donna, Pammie, and Laurie
I was so sorry to hear from Donna Ray that your father was gravely ill and then passing so soon…I know this is a very difficult time for each and every one of you.In my minds eye I see him and your mother at what was probably in their 30’s ……….I can’t envision them any older. The next while is going to be painful to each of you for various and different reasons…pull together and rest in the love they both had for each of you.
God bless and know you are in my heart and prayers. I hope the Warren Avenue folks have met up and are all happy to be together again….. Love you all, Linda
David, Pam, Donna, Laura – we are so sorry for the loss of your Dad…and Sarah for the loss of your husband. Our hearfelt sympathies to the entire family.
~Polly N. Kiser
Ann & Ron Fagan
David, Donna, Pamee & Laurie,
We are so sorry for the loss of your Dad and our dear friend. The memories and good times we shared, Friday nights playing games, watching TV and eating popcorn. Camping at Wiseman’s view. So very many good times. Your Dad was one of the kindest men we have known – always ready with a chuckle. He will be sorely missed by anyone who knew him.
Much love,
Ralph and Sue
We will miss you Uncle Mitch. We had a wonderful time with you at the lake over the 4th of July. Our love and prayers are with Aunt Ruth and your family.
Love to all,
Robin and Mike Dixon
Dear Sara and all family members,
We were shocked to hear of Cecil’s
death. We have been long-time friends with Cecil and his family.
Evelyn worked with him for many years at the telephone company.
He was a good man and will be missed by everyone. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
Virginia,
So sorry about your brother.
Margaret Ann
We wish we could have gotten to know Mitch better . He will be missed.
Sarah, I’m so sorry I didn’t get to attend any of the services for Cecil, as I was in FL with my daughter & her family when they took place. I felt so lucky to have seen him for a few minutes at the hospital just before he died. He was one of my favorite cousins in the Mitchell family & was always so sweet to me. God Bless You.
Virginia, I was so sorry to have been out of town with family when Cecil died. It was very good to spend even a few minutes with you at St. Joseph’s that day. I’ve always loved you & Cecil.
David, I learned after the fact that your dad had passed away, and I wanted to send my deepest sympathy and let you know that I am thinking about you.
Dear Mitchell Family, We were so sorry to hear about your father. We enjoyed spending time with your family. Your family is in our prayers.