Harold Holder Mitchell

Harold "Hal" Holder Mitchell, Sr. died on Saturday, November 19, 2022.  Hal was born on May 30, 1929, to Zack Ruff Mitchell and Zadie Tucker Mitchell in Pace, Mississippi, the eleventh of twelve children.  He grew up in Pace.  Hal graduated from Cleveland High School in 1947 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Mississippi State College (now University) in 1951.  He played basketball at Cleveland High School and was very active in student life at State, serving as Vice President of his senior class and President of the School of Agriculture.  Hal was a member of the Air Force ROTC Drill Team and the Scabbard and Blade.  He was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa and was selected to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and to the MSU Hall of Fame.  On March 18, 1951, Hal married Rosa Christine Thornton.  He was fond of saying that Chris chased him for 7 years before catching him.  Upon finishing college Hal entered the U.S. Air Force, serving as an officer during the Korean war.  In 1954 Hal joined Jimmy Sanders Seed Company, where he worked for 37 years, retiring in 1992.  He helped grow that company from a small local business to a multi-state operation.  He loved traveling to Heber Springs, Arkansas area and fishing on the Little Red River.  Hal was a life-long Methodist, holding membership in St. Luke Methodist Church for many years in between membership in First Methodist Church, Cleveland, MS, where he started out and ended up.  Hal loved his family and was loved by them.  He and Chris raised and educated five children.  Other than his years of military service, Hal lived his entire life in the Mississippi Delta in Pace and in Cleveland.  He was a person of conviction and determination who seldom, if ever, wavered in his beliefs.  Hal is survived by his wife of 71 years, Christine T. Mitchell, and his children Harold H. Mitchell, Jr. (E'Lou) of Greenville, MS, Todd Mitchell (Mary) of Cleveland, MS, Mollie M. Sims of Madison, MS, William R. Mitchell (Regenia) of Laurel, MS, and a daughter-in-law Julie B. Mitchell of Madison, MS, 13 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his son, James Tucker Mitchell, his parents, and his 11 siblings.  Visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church, Cleveland, MS from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.  The service will be held at 2:00 pm Wednesday, November 23, 2022 in the sanctuary of First Methodist Church, Cleveland, MS, with burial to follow at the New  Cleveland Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Methodist Church, St. Luke Methodist Church, or the Wounded Warrior Project.