Joseph Mitchell

Joseph Mitchell, 75, of Hilton Head Island, SC passed away Thursday, January 7, 2021, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Allen Funeral Home of Ridgeland.  We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall.

Deacon Joseph Willie Mitchell was born on April 2, 1945 on
Hilton Head Island, to the late Annie Mae Mitchell and Joseph Willie
Jones. In addition to his mother, he was raised by a loving grandmother,
Evelina Mitchell in the Gardner community of Hilton Head Island.
Joe’s Christian education began as a child as he attended Sunday
School. At a young age, he confessed Christ as his personal Lord and
Savior and became a member of The Historic First African Missionary
Baptist Church, following the footsteps of his late grandmother. With
his love for singing, he served as a member of the church choir and later
served as the Choir’s President for 30 years. Joseph could be heard on any
given Sunday belting his favorite hymns from the choir stand such as ‘I
Am Redeemed’ and ‘It Wasn’t The Nails’. He was ordained as a Deacon
where he served Ward 1 faithfully along with Deacon Ronald Fennel
until his illness. He was herald for outing an electrical fire that once
threatened The Historic First African Missionary Baptist Church. Joe
was a dedicated and strong supporter of the church and his community
in many areas. He was instrumental in assisting his aunt Julia with
the youth at FAB and upon retiring he gifted the church with a 12
passenger van.
“Joe”, as he was affectionately called by his family and friends,
received his education in the public schools of Beaufort County, S.C.
and received further training through the Job Corps program. He was
awarded a Golden Car trophy after graduating from Job Corps, where
he specialized in Automotive Repair and Tailoring. Upon graduation,
he worked in the Food and Beverage industry until 1966 when became
employed with Palmetto Electric Cooperative, where he worked for over
42 years. He was most notably known as the first African American
Journeyman Lineman within the Coastal, Edisto, and Palmetto Electric
Cooperatives.
While employed there he also received extensive training as an
Electrician. His dedication to job excellence allowed him to be promoted
from Lineman to Journeyman Lineman, and later as the Superintendent
over contractors and construction line crews for both Hilton Head
Island and Bluffton districts, until he retired in 2008. With his love for
working with his hands, he was also skilled in Carpentry and Plumbing.
He was called on frequently by those he considered friends and family
throughout the Low County to do just about anything, from building
decks to wiring homes for electricity. This he would do until his health
and wellness began to wane. Although his memories of years long gone
were slowly fading, the desire to work with his hands still remained.
On January 7, 2021 in the stillness of the night, God in his
infinite wisdom saw that the road was rough, the going was getting
tough and the hills were becoming too hard to climb that he called
Joseph home from labour to reward.
Joseph leaves behind a loving family to forever cherish his
legacy and fond memories, including sons, Terry Jones (Qualisa), Craig
Jones, Tavarres Ladson, all of Hilton Head Island, SC; his daughters,
Tracy Mitchell of Hilton Head Island SC, and Yolanda Stafford of
Kingsland, GA; eleven grandchildren: Quanesha, Allyssa, Dominique,
Marquis, Aleisha, Jamiesha, Johnathan, Ebony, Britney, Justice and
Ellington; great grandchildren: Amariyah, Amillie, Michala and Malakai;
a brother, Luther Mitchell (Sheila) of Navarre, FL and a sister, Lucille M.
Gregory (Luke) of Ridgeland, SC; special aunts and uncles Elnora Aiken,
Julia Bailey, Mr. Charles and Rev. Lillian Mitchell; a special cousin Jacyln
Aiken; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and caring friends.

A visitation for Mr.Joseph Mitchell will be held at Allen Funeral Home of Ridgeland Wednesday, January 13, 2021, from 4 PM to 6 PM. Graveside Services will be held Thursday, January 14, 2021, at Pinefield Cemetery in Hilton Head Island, SC at 1:30 PM in the afternoon. 

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Please actively practice social distancing (6-feet apart) and wear your mask at ALL times during the services that Allen Funeral Home provides.

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