John Thomas Mitchell, Sr.

Macon, Georgia. John Thomas Mitchell Sr. went home to the Lord on Thursday, April 8, 2010. He was born March 27, 1930 in Blythdale, Missouri. He was the son of the late Reverend Harvey Raymond Mitchell and Beatrice Parman Mitchell. Johnny Mitchell was a graduate of the High School and Junior College of Gordon Military College in Barnesville, Georgia. He was an outstanding cadet serving as a platoon leader at Gordon Military College. He obtained a B.A. at Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina where he was a member of the Erskine Football Team. After his graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he served on the front line of the Korean War as a platoon leader. He retired as a Major. While in the Marines he coached the Marine Corps football team in the Far East Rice Bowl. After the Korean War he returned to Barnesville to teach English and History at Gordon Military College and served as Head Football coach. He also served as Recreation Director for the City of Barnesville. Mitchell served in higher education for fifty years. He served as Director of Admissions and Vice President at Tift College in Forsyth Georgia. In 1961, Dr. Rufus Harris hired Mitchell as Director of Admissions at Mercer University. He logged over 12,000 hours in his private plane travelling throughout the Southeast recruiting students for Mercer University. While at Mercer, Johnny Mitchell also served as Athletic Director and helped organize the Trans America Athletic Conference. That conference is now known as the Atlantic Sun Conference. He was a member of the TAAC Executive Board. In 1962 John Mitchell successfully encouraged and challenged the board of trustees to accept the application of Sam Oni as Mercer's first black student. He urged Mercer to take this step in keeping with the Christian mission of the school. In 1974, under then president, Dr. Harris, Johnny Mitchell helped develop a plan for a school of Medicine at Mercer. Under President Dr. Kirby Godsey, Mitchell was named as Senior Vice President for Public and Governmental Affairs and became the point person for Mercer to build statewide support for a Medical School to provide primary care physicians to the underserved areas of Georgia. As lobbyist for Mercer, he worked closely with leaders of the Georgia State Legislature and worked successfully with Governor's George Busbee, Joe Frank Harris, Zell Miller, Roy Barnes, and Sonny Perdue. In 1998, Mitchell was honored with the Lobbyist Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a life member of the President's Club at Mercer University. Johnny Mitchell was involved in the Macon Community. He served as Chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee for the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce. He traveled to Ocmulgee, Oklahoma with community leaders to reverse the Trail of Tears to the Trail of Cheers helping provide scholarships to Mercer for Creek Indians. He was a charter member and served as chairman of the Bibb County Hospital Authority from 1968-1976. He served on the Medcen Board of the Medical Center of Central Georgia. He was a member of the Macon Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Rotary Club Board of Directors. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and the Georgia Gridiron Secret Society. He served on the boards of Central Bank of Georgia, First Union Bank of Macon and the Capital City Bank of Macon. He coached football and baseball with the Macon Recreation Department and Vine Ingle and travelled across the state with his daughter in horse shows. Mitchell served on the Georgia Sport's Hall of Fame Board and helped secure funding for the construction of the Sports Hall of Fame in Macon. He also served on the Honors Court for nomination and selection of Hall of Fame inductees. He served on the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agriculture Authority Board in Perry, Georgia. He also served as a charter member for the Board of Georgia's 529 Savings Plan for Education. He served under Senator Zell Miller on the commission for nominees and appointments to the United States service academies. Mitchell also served on the Macon State College Foundation Board. He served on the Board of Trustees of Erskine College and was Chairman of the National Association of College Administrator's Council. In October of 2007, Mitchell was recognized with the Act of Courage Award by the Harriet Tubman Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in recognition of his role in integration at Mercer in 1962. Attending the ceremony was Mercer graduate Sam Oni. In May of 2009 the Board of Trustees of Flagler College honored Mitchell for his nurturing influence in the schools transition to a co-ed college. Nothing was more important than family. He adored his wife of 49 years, Mary Terrell of LaGrange, Georgia. They raised three children and served in the elementary department of Ingleside Baptist Church and he served as a greeter. He lived out his faith with his family. He is survived by his wife, Lillian Mary Terrell Mitchell, sons John T. Mitchell Jr. (Lisa), Macon, Ga Render Terrell "Tee" Mitchell (Kea), one daughter, Mary Eva Tredway (Craig) Atlanta, Georgia. Eight grandchildren; John T. Mitchell III, James Sidney Lanier Mitchell, Mary Elaine Mitchell, Render Terrell "Tee" Mitchell Jr., Lillian Kea Mitchell, Anna Claire Mitchell, Mary Janell Tredway and Madison Tandy Tredway. One sister Rosamond Mitchell Harden (Bill) Macon, Georgia. Harts Mortuary at the Cupola is in charge of arrangements. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 PM Sunday, April 11, 2010 in the chapel at Ingleside Baptist Church. The family will visit with friends in the gathering area at Ingleside Baptist Church immediately following the service. Dr. Tim McCoy will officiate the service. In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully requests donations in memory of Johnny Mitchell to Ingleside Baptist Church, 834 Wimbish Road, Macon, Georgia, 31210; Hospice of Central Georgia, 858 High Street, Macon, Georgia, 31201; and the Mercer University School of Medicine, 1400 Coleman Avenue, Macon, Georgia, 31207. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, 1301 Riverside Drive. Click here to view photos of floral tributes.