By Staff
Mr. H. Reid Mitchell, Jr., age 90, a resident of 309 Alderson Road, Smallwood, Washington, died Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at his home.
Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, January 24, 2008 at Oakdale Cemetery, Washington, conducted by the Rev. Danny Allen and the Rev. Susan Harrison.
Mr. Mitchell was born in Washington on October 3, 1917. He was the son of the late Henry Reid Mitchell, Sr. and Fannie Tingle Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell attended Washington City Schools, Duke University where he was a member of the Class of 1939, and Travelers School of Insurance in Hartford, Conn. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, where he served the European Division, Air Transport Command, stationed in London and Paris.
Mr. Mitchell was a retired insurance agent and business owner. He owned and operated H. Reid Mitchell, Jr. Insurance and Bonds for 50 years. Mr. Mitchell was a life- long member of the First United Methodist Church, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Finance Committee and President of the Frank Ruble Sunday School Class.
Mr. Mitchell was a dedicated servant to his community. He contributed to the beautification and renewal of the Washington waterfront and a better standard of living for the town’s poorest citizens by serving as chairman of the City of Washington Urban Renewal and Housing Study Group. Mr. Mitchell served as chairman of the first Washington Redevelopment Commission which planned Washington’s public housing, Stewart Parkway and cleared substandard housing and dilapidated warehouses in parts of Washington. He served on the Board of Education for the Washington City Schools from 1969 to 1971. As the board vice chairman, he helped oversee the peaceful and successful integration of the schools.
Mr. Mitchell promoted recreational opportunities for the young people by sponsoring the Mitchell-Kemper Tennis Tournament in the mid-1970s that later became the Mitchell-Dr. Pepper Tennis tournament. He sponsored a Youth League Baseball team for many years.
Among civic activities, Mr. Mitchell was a member and past President of Washington Rotary Club, member and past President of the Beaufort County Shrines Club, member and Master of Orr Lodge, member and past Commander of the Washington Flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard, member of the New River Power Squadron and was appointed by Gov. Bob Scott to the N.C. Committee of Water Safety in 1970. He was a member of Washington Jaycees, member and past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the George H. and Laura E. Brown Library, member of the Advisory board for the local Salvation Army and member of the Curriculum Advisory Committee of Beaufort County Community College.
Mr. Mitchell was a charter member of the Iron Dukes athletic booster club at Duke University and charter member of the Washington Yacht and Country Club.
On June 12, 1948, Mr. Mitchell married the former Julia Latham, who died, October 17, 1996.
His daughter, Julia “Betty” Mitchell Gray and her husband, Richard H. Gray both of Washington, two nephews, two nieces and friend and caretaker, Cora Barnes of Washington, survive Mr. Mitchell.
The family will receive friends after the service at The Meeting Place, Downtown Washington.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 304 West Second Street, Washington, N.C. 27889.
You may send condolences to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is serving the Mitchell family.
Paid Obituary