THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 13, 1995 TAG: 9510130478
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: EDENTON LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
John Agrippa Mitchener Jr., 81, of 203 N. Granville St., died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 1995, in Martin County Hospital, Williamston.
A native of Chowan County he was the son of the late John A. Mitchener and Olive Futrell Mitchener. He was the owner/operator of Mitchener Pharmacy and was a former mayor of Edenton.
Mitchener graduated in 1937 from the UNC-CH School of Pharmacy and worked in the firm established by his father in 1906. He claimed to have started at age nine ``standing on a stool selling Cokes, ice cream, and candies.'' He has been active in regional, state and national pharmaceutical societies including the N.C. Pharmaceutical Association; the National Association of Retail Druggists and the Northeastern Drug Club. In 1993, he was the North Carolina recipient of the nationally prestigious Ayerst Wyeth Robins ``Bowl of Hygeia Award'' for outstanding community service beyond the normal scope of community pharmacy involvement.
An active community leader, Mitchener served as an Edenton town councilman from 1951 until 1959, from which time he served as mayor until 1969. He was a member, deacon and elder of First Presbyterian Church of Edenton; a director of Chowan Hospital; a 50-year member and past president of Edenton Lion's Club; the Edenton Chowan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Unanimity Masonic Lodge (NU)7; New Bern Scottish Rite Bodies; Sudan Shrine Temple; and was a past member of the National Guard. Mitchener was active in the N.C. League of Municipalities having served as director, third, second, and first vice president and in 1968, president. He was named Tar Heel of the Week by the Raleigh News & Observer; served as Moderator for Albemarle Presbytery; chairman of Albemarle Area Development Association; and was a director of Bank of North Carolina-NCNB.
Mitchener was married to the former Mary Nancy Pike, also a pharmacist. Other survivors include three sons, John A. Mitchener III, and his wife Ginette of Edenton, Joseph Pike Mitchener and his wife Eva of Columbia, S.C.; and William James Mitchener and his wife Susan of Rock Hill, S.C.; sister, Janie Harrell of Edenton; brother, James Mitchener of Kannapolis; and seven grandchildren, Pike, Peter, Ruth, Garrett, Adam, Stephen and Allison.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in Edenton Baptist Church with Dr. L. Richard Batzler and the Rev. Jane Love officiating. Burial will follow in Beaver Hill Cemetery with Masonic honors. The family will receive friends today from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Swindell Funeral Home, Hertford, and at other times at the home of Ginette and John Mitchener III, 1000 W. Queen St., Edenton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Edenton, or a charity of your choice.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB