Ben Junior Mitchell was born on June 17, 1955, to the late James Carl and Mary Alice Mitchell Sr., in Monroeville. He transitioned from time to eternity on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, at his residence.

He attended school at J.U. Blacksher in Uriah, where he excelled in football and earned the name “Iron Man.”

Those who preceded him in death include his paternal grandparents, Ben and Rosie Mitchell; maternal grandparents, Sylvester and Fannie Bivins; two sisters, Mary C. Mitchell and Annie R. Dailey; four brothers, John Hollinger, Carl Hollinger, Joseph Mitchell and Donald Mitchell; step mother, Ida Pearl Mitchell; two aunts, Willonese Craft and Willie Mar Dread; and uncles, Aaron Mitchell, Ester Mitchell, Herman Mitchell, Lloyd Mitchell, Shirley Mitchell and T.J. Craft.

He leaves to cherish his precious memories; two daughters, Dana Smoots of Mobile and Katina Henderson of Pensacola, Fla.; two sons, Kendrick (Nikki) Henderson and Damarcus Johnson, both of Atmore; 10 grandchildren, Tyranie Henderson, Terrell Flavors, Kajayla Henderson, Janiyah Henderson, La’Paris Henderson and Ke’Andre Henderson; five sisters, Barbara Mitchell, Jewel (Mickey) Ankum, Linda (Deacon Jimmy) Marshall, Gloria Pigh and Deborah (Abe) Bishop, all of Atmore; stepsisters, Mary, Annie Pearl and Letha Faye, all of Atmore; four brothers, J.C. (Dorothy) Mitchell Jr., David (Mary) Mitchell, both of Atmore, Sylvester Robert (Evelyn) Mitchell of Brewton and Lloyd Mitchell of Monroeville; step brothers, Leroy Jr. and Willie Ray, both of Atmore and Michael of Minneapolis, Minn.; three uncles, A.J. (Mary) Mitchell of Jackson, Bud Mitchell of Atmore and Freddie Richardson of Houma, La.; one aunt, Bessie Mae (Ned) Murphy of Mexia; special friends, Chester Dawson, Apostle Jimmie Wilson, Melvin Williams, Jerry Bynum, Hal Green and Al Moore and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Feb. 8, at Empowerment Tabernacle Christian Center, with Bishop Tony McAroy, eulogist.