Herbert H. Mitchell
November 11, 1926 ~ March 19, 2004
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Herbert Hiram “Mitch” Mitchell, Sr., 77, of 987 Glenn Bridge Road, SE, Arden, died Friday, March 19, 2004.
Mr. Mitchell was a native of Buncombe County and was a son of the late Herbert H. Mitchell, Sr. and Loduska Carson Mitchell. He was an Army veteran and his tours of duty included serving as an honor guard member for military funerals.
He was a graduate of Biltmore High School and worked at Gerber Products for 33 years before retiring as a foreman. For the past 13 years he had worked as a greeter at the Hendersonville Road WalMart. He attended Fletcher First Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife, Sadie Sawyer Mitchell; two daughters, Marcia M. Ruby of the home and Kaye M. Horrell and her husband Gene of Arden; two sons Tommy D. Mitchell and his wife Deidre of Lexington, SC and Mark E. Mitchell and his wife Judy of Arden; one sister, Mary M. Dodson of Taylors, SC; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Revs. Roy Waldroup, James King and Joseph Horrell officiating. Military rites will be provided by the Buncombe County Veterans Council at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
His family will receive friends from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
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Dear Sadie, Mark and Judy,
How sad I feel for your loss, I am so sorry that you have lost your Dad, Mark and your father-in-law Judy and your husband and I know best friend Sadie.
If there is anything I can do for you sometimes a house sitter during the funeral time would be good since it is advetised in the paper and someone would knowh when the house would be empty. I know when Jack died a neighbor did it for me and it gave me piece of mind. Another suggestion that I appreciate is a memory book for people to sign their rememberances of your father Mark , I know looking over it these past 2 1/2 years has helped me. Please call on me for anything.
God Bless you during this difficult time I will keep you on our prayer list at Skyland United Methodist Church. God Bless you all. Jan Whiteman
Dear Papa,
I was so blessed to have been loved like one of your own. I’m glad you know how much I loved you. Thank you for all you did for us and for all you will do. (And, thank you for my present. You’ll see it at our house…on the mantel)
I’ll always remember…
With all my love,
Judy
p.s. I’ll take care of him…
Dad,
All you ever wanted was the best for me. We talked so many times about my plans. I know you thought Friday would bring what I needed to fulfill all my hopes and dreams. The best thing for me was you. You taught me so much by your example and you gave me the strength to accompish all of those things you were so proud of me for. Yes, Dad, I know how proud you were of me. I know you loved to watch me accomplish the goals you and I talked about, but what I don’t know is why you had to leave me and what I’ll do without you. I’m so glad I stayed so close to you and spent every minute I could with you, because now that’s all I have until we talk again. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I told you so many times, but it will never be enough.
I’m so proud you were my Dad.
Mark
I just saw you at work, doing one of the things you love, making people smile…You leave behind a wonderful family, who you have given wonderful memories. You will truly be missed. Until we meet again, love to you and your family, Tracy
Sadie & Family: Doyce and I are so sorry to read about your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of sorrow.
I worked with Herb at Gerber. He was a great worker and supervisor. May God bless the family at this time of loss.
We were sad to hear of Mitch’s passing. I had a long conversation with him a few months back after his heart attack. He was such a joy to be around. He was so proud of his family and spoke of you often. He was always so sweet to our Susan and often spoke of Joe. We will miss that sweet smile. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Gail, Jim and Susan Taylor, Stephanie Collins
I worked with Herbert for over 20 years at Gerber. He was always great to be around and barrel of fun. It saddens me to hear of his passing along with many others who I shared such a positive work life with at Gerber. Herbert, you were a good guy and a pleasure to know. Rest in peace my friend.
To the Mitchell Family, You all have always been very special to me and my family. Kaye’s kids grew up with mine and we shared many memories togeather. Mitch would always greet us at Wal-Mart with such affection. We will miss him and know that his life speaks thru his family. He loved his family more than anything.
With love to each of you,
Lucy Smith
Paw Paw,
I’m so lucky that I got to spend 21 years with you. You’ve touched my life so deeply with your love and kindness. Some of my earliest memories are of helping you plant flowers. Your guidence and your wisdom have helped shape me into the young women I am today. To tell you the truth Paw, you’re more like my daddy than my grandfather. I just wish I could see you make a silly face or say something funny just one more time. But I know that Jesus is keeping you safe in his arms until I can get to Heaven to see you again. So you rest now Paw Paw. I’ll see you later. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
LORI BELLE
Mitch’ always seemed to be smiling. He had more friends than anyone I know. He was a joy to be around, and will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known him.
We will hold memories of Uncle Junior’s kindness and unique sense of humor close to our hearts always. We love you and you are in our thoughts & prayers.
Sheila John Jessica Imogene & Bob
Marcia, Kaye, Tommy, Mark & Mrs. Mitchell, Your family has always been very special to me. I really enjoyed growing up with all of you, and missed you a lot, when you moved.I know when we were kids, we did a lot of stupid things, but all of you will always hold a special place in my heart.
I would love to be with you tonight, but my husband is on an out of town plant delivery and I have to be here since it is cold.
My prayers are with all of you, but especially for you Marcia. I know that God can take care of you and I know how much your Dad loved you and he took good care of you too.
Your Dad always talked about you and was concerned on how I was doing, each time I saw him. He will truely be missed.
May God Bless each one of you.
Love, Betty Yarborough Henn
My deepest sympathy in the loss of your loved one. I knew Herbert from years ago when I was Loduska’s nurse at Aston Park HCC. Herbert was a fine person and always had a smile on his face. Again my sympathy to all the Mitchell family.
Mr. Mitchell was a blessing to all
who knew him; and it was always a
blessing to see his smiling face
at WalMart.
Mrs.Mitchell
I Know the pain and suffering you are going through you are in my thoughts and prayers May God Bless the family
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
Herb was a very special person and will be missed by many. I worked with Herb at Gerber for about 25 yrs and saw him many times at Walmart. His smiling face will be missed by all who knew him. May God Bless you and your family and supply all your needs at this time. Sorry I did not know this in time to make it to the visitation. Our prayers are with you. Joyce Bryant
Sadie i’m so sorry for your loss God knows there was not a better man than Plugg . He loved everybody . I’m sorry that i couldn’t be there,
Dear Sadie and family: I will always remember ‘Junior’ as a friend. I was priviledged to serve as his pastor at Oteen Baptist Church. His outgoing personality and smile made many friends. Walmart got a wonderful ‘greeter’ when they got Herbert Mitchell. The number of people who came to pay their respects is just a small indication of how many smiles and laughs ‘Junior’ brought to their lives. He will be missed at Walmart, but remembered by all who walk through those doors!
God bless you and all your family!
Gayle D. Brown
(former pastor of Oteen Baptist Church).
My condolences to the family, you all will be in our thoughts and prayers. It was a pleasure to work with such a great person at Walmart for the last four years. Mitch always made me smile and he will be greatly missed by all. He was such a joy to be around with his warm smile and big heart. There will never be another greeter who could ever take his place.
Mrs. Mitchell,
I worked with Mitch from 1978 untill his retirement at Geber. My wife, Shirley and I kept in touch with the best known greeter at Wal-Mart over the recent years. We will miss him as well.
I had another obligation on Monday night and was unable to make the visitation. It is important to honor our friends and I am very sorry for not being able to be there.
Please accept our condolences in your loss.
Pa,
From the day I was born Pa I have always had an empty spot in my heart only having one PaPa, but the day that I met you, you touched my heart and filled something that I thought I would never have and that was another grandpa. The smiles that you shared with everyone and the ‘now Maricas’ at the kitchen table will never drift away. No matter what anyone said you always told them that I was your grand son and that meant the world to me. Yes you were a very productive and hard working man but you always managed to spend time with your family and share them the love that you had inside. You were always an angel to me and everyone else Pa and there will be never enough words to tell you how much I really love you Pa. Thank you for showing me the perfect example in life to be a father and a man, until the day I see you again have fun live a little and do what you do best, love a lot. So to my family remember that this is a time for an angel to be home-and one more no goodbyes but yet think of it as a ‘see ya soon’ I love you forever and a day Pa–
We are so sorry for your loss. Your dad was a blessing to our church.
Sincerely,
Norman and Brenda Lisenbee
What a sweet blessing we have had knowing Mr.Mitch. Our condolences to this wonderful family. We all loved him. Another smiling Angel has left us for his home in Heaven. May God bless his wife,children,and grandchildren. He will be missed here, but he is rejoicing in Heaven with his love ones and Jesus. May God Bless, Roger,Donnie and Daniel Grindstaff
For The Love of My Life,
I love looking back on our yesterdays, on all the ways you touched my heart from the beginning. I loved dreaming about our tomorrows. Our life together grew more wonderful and we grew closer even though it had been 53 years. Best of all, I LOVED (and LOVE) sharing my days with you…the one I’m so proud and lucky to call The Love of My Life.
I miss the little notes…
Most of all, I MISS YOU.
‘The Love of Your Life’
Sadie
My dear precious daddy, you are going to be missed by so many people. It made me think about the song ‘Thank you for giving to the Lord’. You touched so many lives. We will never really know exactly how many until we cross that golden shore.
You were a great man and a Godly example. You taught us by your example and I have passed your gift on to my children. What a great legacy to pass on.
When I was a little girl I thought you were a giant. To me you were huge. I used to love taking hold of you hand and going with you places. I thought I was ‘the stuff’. Church was the best place place we went together. Thank you Daddy for the sacrifices you made for us. You never had a negative thing to say. Even when I never really learned to play the piano,you still had faith in me. You could have been a wealthy man but you made sure we had everything we ‘wanted’.
I loved my ‘Earthly Father’ but I love my heavenly Father and he will be my comforter until I see you again!
Your ‘Baby Girl’
Kaye Kaye
PawPaw–
It just dont seem right! Last Thursday as we sat at the table having breakfast who would have ever known it would be our last one together! I can still hear you now ‘sadieee why do you braid her hair like that it looks awful’! The many laughs we shared, the many uplifts you gave, telling me it would be ok when i got fired for the first time! *Even though you had told me it was going to happen since i missed work so much* Paw you were a great inspiration to my life as well as many others. As mean as you were to all your walmart customers and employees, they are still commenting on what a sweet man you were (boy, you really had the wool pulled over their eyes) Thank you paw paw for everything you passed to my mom for her to pass on to me! I belive im a ‘Pretty Good Girl’ as you would tell me! I love you so much, and though i’ll miss you so much here on earth .. It wont be long till we meet again. But hey .. when i get up there with you can you ask st. peter if you could greet me, cause I want to here you say. ‘Hey baby, where you been, you want an icee.’ the same way you always greted me when i’d come see you at work! I love you *&* can’t wait to see you again…
‘Paw-Paws Little Baby’
*Lindsey*