Services set for Mitchell, Manassas civic leader

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

Published: May 28, 2008

By BENNIE SCARTON JR.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday for Paul W. Mitchell, who devoted most of his life as a community leader and volunteer, serving the City of Manassas and its residents.

Mitchell, 91, who died on May 22, was a World War II veteran, a government employee, a Legionnaire and was widely known for his volunteer efforts.

On March 12, 2007, the Manassas City Council passed a resolution stating in part that it "publicly acknowl-edges and commends Paul W. Mitchell for being a model citizen, leading by example and serving the city and its citizens."

On his 90th birthday on March 3, 2007, Mitchell resigned as the City of Manassas representative on the Board of Directors of the Prince William County Commission on Aging and all other volunteer organizations he had been associated with through the years.

City Manager Lawrence D. Hughes recalls Mitchell as being "a well-liked, community institution … an icon." He had served on the Commission on Aging from 1979 to his stepping down.

He also served on the Board of Directors of the Prince William County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, Prince William County representative to the Northern Virginia Legal Services, Board of Directors of the Prince William County Senior Center Advisory Council and one of the founding members of the Prince William County Senior Citizens Center at Manassas.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Manassas, where he served initially as trustee and later as usher and greeter.

Mitchell served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 and joined the American Legion Post 114 and worked tirelessly in support of the post through the years.

Ulysses "Xerk" White, past and present commander of the post, has known Mitchell for more than 30 years and remembers him as being "the kindest, most gentle person I've ever known. He always had a positive outlook on life ... with no ax to grind against anyone."

White credits Mitchell with saving the post.

"The post thrived through the early and mid-years of its existence as it played a vital role in the social fabric of the African-American communities of Manassas, Prince William County and Northern Virginia but many mem-bers abandoned the post in the '70s and '80s, but not Mitchell. He was determined not to allow that to happen and he single-handedly kept the post alive by recruiting new members, maintaining accurate post records, encouraging new leadership and personally paying post dues to avoid the loss of the post charter," White said.

For his efforts, the post was renamed in his honor and is now the Paul W. Mitchell American Legion Post 114.

White said because of Mitchell's support, generosity and dedication plans are in the making to build a larger post, which will still retain his name. White said it's possible that a veterans' retirement dwelling could also be built in his honor.

Councilman Steve Randolph recalls Mitchell as "being one of the finest men I've ever known. Throughout his life he was always contributing to the community … and always with a smile on his face."

Vice Mayor Harry "Hal" Parrish II said "in his own way, he was much like my dad [former State Delegate Harry Parrish] in that he loved serving his country and community in many, many ways. It is really note-worthy that the two would serve almost their entire lifetime helping as they did. This is amazing and they should be recognized by all for it."

For all civic duties, Mitchell was affectionally known by many as "the unofficial mayor of Manassas."

Keith Savage, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Manassas, said he found Mitchell to be "a man of effort, character and discipline, taking advantage of every opportunity the Lord gave him and turned it into victory for his community and church family."

He was born March 3, 1917, in Thomastown, La., and came to Manassas with his grandmother, Hanna Gray, at the age of 10 in 1927. He graduated from the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth in 1937 and attended Virginia State College (now University) before being drafted into the Army.

He and his wife, Emma Mae Harris, were married on May 18, 1946, a marriage that lasted until her death in 1993.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.