Obituary: Franklin Allen Mitchell

Services for Mr. Franklin Allen Mitchell, 48, of Lexington will be Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. at Lexington Baptist Church, 308 E. Main Street, Lexington.  A private burial will follow services at Ridge Crest Memorial Park, Batesburg-Leesville.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Sept. 11, beginning at 6 p.m. at Milton Shealy Funeral Home, Batesburg-Leesville, SC.

Allen Mitchell was a devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend, who deeply loved his family, and was eager to love and serve all those who needed him. He was a coach in the Lexington Dixie Baseball organization and enjoyed coaching. He loved nothing more than supporting his children, Riley and Walker, at their various interests. Allen was a committed follower of Jesus, and confidently confessed Jesus as his personal savior. Allen was born Dec. 8, 1963 and died Sept. 9, 2012.

Allen is survived by his wife, Meredith Sims Mitchell, daughter, Riley, and son, Walker, all of Lexington; parents, Aldene (Dene) and Ollie Mitchell, Batesburg-Leesville; brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Debbie Mitchell, nephew, Tory, and niece, Kristan Mitchell, all of Batesburg-Leesville; father-in-law, Ron Sims and step-mother-in-law, Evonne, of Leesville; brothers-in-law, Brett Sims, of Lexington, and Michael Sims, of Leesville, and Todd Sims, of Columbia; and numerous other relatives.

Allen, a native of Batesburg-Leesville, was a 1986 University of South Carolina graduate, where he also was a varsity letterman in both football and baseball. As quarterback of the 1984 team known as the Black Magic, Allen led the Gamecocks to a 10-2 record, including nine consecutive wins, and a peak at No. 2 in the national rankings. He held a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a minor in marketing.

Allen’s love for sports began in Batesburg-Leesville, where he excelled in football and baseball, and in 2010 was elected to the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. It was growing up in eastern Lexington County, that Allen developed a love for the outdoors, including hunting and fishing, that continued for the remainder of his life, and included close family members. He was a member of both the Ole Buddy and Edisto hunt clubs.

Allen grew up in Mt. Ebal Baptist Church, in Batesburg-Leesville, and in 2004 led his family to join Lexington Baptist Church. He was an active member of The V Sunday School class, through which he participated in two mission trips to North Dakota, providing sports camps for children there.

Pallbearers will include David Lewis, William Robinson, Jones Andrews, Monty Shealy, Randy Barnes, Buck Gore, Joe Edens III, and Bob Blose. Honorary pallbearers will include Glen Shumpert, Trenton Cromer and Denver Cromer.

Special seating will be reserved during the service for all former high school and college teammates and coaches. The Rev. Scott Vaughan will officiate the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Allen Mitchell Family Memorial at any National Bank of SC (NBSC), attention Michael Edens, 1221 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Milton Shealy Funeral Home & Crematory of Batesburg-Leesville is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Obituary courtesy of Milton Shealy Funeral Home.