Ol'Harry

MR. ED DEFINES SENIOR GOLF

Edward “Beany” Mitchell and I met early on a Wednesday morning.  Realizing he had played golf on Tuesday and would play again on Thursday, I appreciated him giving up Wednesday golf for our interview.

REST IN PEACE, EDWARD MITCHELL -- Passed away November 30, 2015

It wasn’t the fastest interview on record, but not much dust settled.  I understood why when escorted out of the Mitchell home – two sons-in law were waiting in the driveway to take Pop-Pop out for a round of golf.

Fair disclosure – A daughter provided, “Beany.”  The sons-in-law and one grandson  offered, “Pop-Pop.”  Cedarcrest Golf Course owner, Becky Lowdermilk, knows him as “Mr. E.”  I’m sticking with “Mr. Mitchell.”

Actually, the Wednesday event appeared more of a mission than a golf outing.  Mitchell has seven holes-in-one trophies in his den, but has saved space for one more.  Hopefully, it came today, but I haven’t heard.

This wasn’t a typical golfing week for Mitchell, now in his 98^th year – he customarily only plays two days a week.  Although he now uses a golf cart, his trim and slim physique belies thousands of rounds of golf in the walking mode.

Born the son of a post office supervisor, Mitchell followed his Dad’s footsteps. He worked 34 years for the Greensboro post office and has now been retired 44 years.

That’s worth a read-again.  He worked 34 years and has been retired 44 years.  While baby boomers might find the fact he has been retired longer than he worked unfathomable, nonagenarians such as Mitchell think it’s pretty cool.

Similarly, Mitchell doesn’t consider shooting his age on the golf course particularly noteworthy, even though that is something neither Tiger Woods nor Jordan Spieth have ever done.

In 1940, Mitchell married Margaret Lassiter, the daughter of Randolph County Sheriff, W. P. Lassiter.  They were married in the home of Rev. and Mrs. J. Clyde Turner, iconic pastor of Greensboro First Baptist Church – Dr. Turner officiating.

Margaret Mitchell was a hair stylist for Greensboro’s Eula Mae Beauty Shop on North Elm Street.  She passed away in 2000, after 60 years of marriage.  

The couple had four children, eight grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.  Per Edward Mitchell, “We had one child and another on the way when l was drafted.  

They sent me to the Philippine Islands.  I was working in a bombed out Army post office in Manila when the war ended.  Neither of us knew it at the time, but my brother, Clyde, was stationed there too.  He was an aerial gunner instructor in the Army Air Forces.  We were able to get together one time for a short visit.”

EDWARD MITCHELL – WORLD WAR II

Another of Edward’s brothers, Earl, served with the Army’s 25^th Infantry Division during the Korean War.  Harris Mitchell, the oldest of the Edwards brothers, died in 1998 at 85.  The four Mitchell brothers have one sister, Mary.  She is 93 and lives in New Mexico.

The Mitchell family lived at 703 North Eugene Street.  Edward Mitchell worked as a paper boy.  Undoubtedly, he made timely deliveries and started early on his way to becoming an outstanding postman.  A certificate from the school year of 1925-26 reads, “Prompt and steady attendance, neither absent nor tardy.”

After graduation from Greensboro Senior High School, he was awarded a band scholarship at Culver Military Academy in Indiana, “I played the French Horn in high school and at Culver.  All our children were musically talented as well,” says Mitchell.

Mitchell attended UNC-Chapel Hill during the Depression Years, “At the time, the job at the post office looked too good to pass up, so I dropped out of college, came home and went to work.”

A strong connection with First Baptist Church continues with the Mitchell brothers, Edward, Clyde and Earl.  Edward Mitchell joined May 13, 1928 at the age of 10, “Long-time members were recently honored at First Baptist – they said I had been a member longer than anyone else.”

Mitchell is not the oldest First Baptist parishioner – that honor goes to D. B. Cobb, who is 103.

Those who have attended the John Willett Men’s Bible Studies over the years will remember the “Mitchell table,” which was usually manned by all three brothers.

98-YEAR OLD EDWARD MITCHELL IN HIS NATURAL HABITAT

“We count Mr. Ed as family at Cedarcrest,” says Becky Lowdermilk.  “He was a paying member for many years but several years ago we made him an honorary member with complimentary golf for the rest of his years.  Even our ducks loved Mr. Ed – he often went by the bakery and bought them something to eat.”