Herbert Allen Mitchell Sr., 84, of Hickory departed this life peacefully on Thursday, July 28, 2022. He was born on May 9, 1938 to the late Phillip and Katie Ponder Mitchell.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Dennis Alvin Mitchell and Mario Anthony Mitchell; and by eleven  brothers and by five sisters.

He is a 1957 graduate of Ridgeview High School. It was his goal to be a funeral director since he was 10 years old. Leaving his job at Smith-Courtney, Allen moved his young family to Nashville, Tennessee in 1966 so that he could study mortuary science at Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science. He graduated in October 1967 and returned to Hickory where he and his wife in April 1968 established Allen Mitchell Funeral Home in Hickory, North Carolina and a second location in Newton, N.C. in 1982.

He was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and became Deacon Emeritus in 2017. He was a member of Victory Lodge #745 P.H.A. and he was a 32 Degree Mason. Believing that giving back to the community is important, Allen Mitchell Sr. ran for the Hickory City School Board where he served from 1979 until 1997 and as Board Chair from 1993 to 1995. He also served as Vice-President and President of the Hickory Branch of the NAACP. In 1997, Allen received the Catawba County Distinguished Service Award and was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor James B. Hunt Jr. In 2018, he was awarded the Godfather of Gospel Living Legends Award and in 2019, he was recognized by Black Catawba County. Without asking for recognition, Allen Mitchell unselfishly helped many young people in the Ridgeview community by purchasing school clothes and shoes, providing school supplies, and assisting with college tuition. For years, he was a co-sponsor of the annual back to school drive with the Hickory Housing Authority and sponsored many sports teams in the community. He was a mentor and encourager to many.

He leaves to cherish loving memories his wife of 64 years Bernice Johnson Mitchell; a son, Herbert Allen (Dana) Mitchell Jr. of Hickory; two daughters, Patricia Mitchell of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Regina Mitchell (Terry) Taylor of Gastonia; 12 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Friendship Baptist Church with the Rev. Lamont Reeves officiating. Burial will follow at Southside Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the church. There will be a public viewing on Friday, August 5, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Allen Mitchell Funeral Home Hickory.

*Masks are required and covid protocols will be observed.