This is what I will be sharing today at my grandfathers funeral o behalf of the Mellish Family. My Grandparents have meant the world for me pretty much for as far back as I can remember. Grandpa was the first man that I ever looked up to with any real measure of trust and in many ways laid the groundwork for who the positive aspects of I would end up becoming as a person. Today, my hope and desire is to try to somehow convey just how much I respected, and loved him and share what he meant, not only to me but to countless other people. The day after learning that grandpa had a stroke, I began to really think about all he meant to not only myself and people in our family circle, but also to people who now literally live all over the world. Through his direct ministry and to those he ministered to who went on to reach and teach others, Grandpas impact can be felt. It was in those moments of thinking about grandpa’s impact that I set up a webpage for words of encouragement and memories to be shared. I have received hundreds of messages from folks who were impacted by grandpa along with some fun and awesome memories. I am going to share just a few of those thoughts: Wanda Wallace Holt when I was a young teenager it was a bad storm and we went to Uncle Ts cabin and he prayed for us and hugged each of us and told us not to worry God was looking down on us and we would be safe. Love this Man of God Tad Mellish For me Steve it would have to be the time him and I spent in the swamp together fishing. None more important than the time that I got to go fishing with My longtime fishing partner PAPA but the day that JT was old enough to go fishing with us. This day sticks out as a vivid day due to one of the pictures Shannon took from the bank. I can remember saying PAPA sorry that JT got stuck in the tree again and PAPA as PAPA did snickered a bit and casted his line in the tree and told JT son its okay I want to be like you. He always had a way of making everyone feel comfortable Candice McGee Gunter Picked me up in the church van when i was a young girl.He would also ask us after family camp to come over and eat boiled peanuts not one night but every night. I loved his poems which were always touching. Bryan Deal Met him last Easter and knew then that I was in the presence of someone really special. You and I were talking about me singing the National Anthem in my underwear...and I heard him chuckle. Karen Marie Adams My Momma just shared this with me earlier today. Anyone that knew Preacher Mitchell knew he had this little dry sense of humor. My Momma used to sing in the group at Ashwood Nazarene and knew the Mitchells all her life. Well, Momma is a diabetic and so was Preacher Mitchell, they used to compare notes about their sugar as they called it. She said she could just see that sly little grin of his during refreshments out in the fellowship hall and he would whisper to her I see they have diet drinks for us Leona, that means we can eat more cake. Of course they would chuckle together. I can see his sweet smile now.... Kay Rabon Mine would be how he let me cry on his shoulder when the Dr. came out and told us Wayne had cancer. It was just he and I and he prayed and really carried me through that day. He never left our side. I will never forget the compassion he showed me that day. On the funny side ,how he use to tease me about how he would like to fish in my koi pond. Martha Copeland Bell When my husband Billy and I first moved back to Sumter, he had to have day surgery. Ive known bro. T all my life. My daddy was his second hand man, so to speak at Ashwood for almost 20 years and I grew up going to camp at Batesburg. But Billy and I had only visited at Ashwood a couple times when we lived in myrtle beach so they didnt know him very well yet. I was in the back with my husband till they took him off to surgery and then went back out to waiting area to join my mom and dad, James and Mattie Copeland. Who was sitting there beside them at 7:00 am? Bro. T and his sweet darlin, Ms Alice of course! I have many stories as all of you. So blessed to have had him and darlin in our lives! Sylvia Anderson Whiting He took charge of getting my trailer in place and balanced like it needed to be. He was ALWAYS the same, no matter what was happening. Stan Parker A classic statement he made to me as a junior high kid around a Bon-fire. Stanley, if you will dedicate your life to The Lord, He will use you in ways beyond your imagination! Rev. Ts words came true for me. On another occasion in their home at the campgrounds at Batesburg, he said: God has more than blessed you in your pick of a wife, Stanley!:) Love that giant of a man in the Christian faith! Mike Barklay Writes: Pastor TW Mitchell has left behind a legacy, by the way he lived, by his holiness unto the Lord. He was selfless. He saw the needs of the people, and he did something about it. Ive never met anyone like him, and dont expect I ever will again. The seeds for souls were planted, and theres just no telling how big the harvest will be. My youngest son, Billy, told me on the phone last night, how he loved TW, and what a great pastor he had been for the church. Influence? The man had it. Pastor, poet, writer, musician, singer, and the list goes on and on. What a man! What a true saint of God.......... Barbara Parnell Atkinson: Preacher Mitchell was a big influence in my life growing up in Bishopville and going to his church. He was so kind to the Parnell family. I remember having dinner at their house and eating what I thought was fried chicken. After I ate it I was told it was squrriel. From Kaye Frierson: Uncle T and Aunt Alice, Thank you for praying so many of us through! Many of us remember as children you were the first faces we would see or look for when we arrived at the grounds because that was just not the camp grounds that was Uncle T and Aunt Alices home and we were all made to feel like we were home there. Thank you for loving us all as your own!!! Angie Blackman Landers: One of the greatest men Ive ever known. This picture I am sharing was taken my last year of Impact, a time in my life that represents the best memories of my teenage years! Heaven certainly gained the sweetest of Angels today. Thanks TW for investing your heart and time into my life Karan Brewer Byrd: Heaven is rejoicing tonight because they welcomed one of the greatest Men I have ever known home. Rev T.W. Talmage Mitchell. Such a Godly man. From his jokes to his singing, he loved our Lord with his heart and soul. He was a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I always looked forward to see him and Mrs. Mitchell at the Nazarene campgrounds. I grew up with his family and love them all. He will be missed but we are happy he is finally out of pain and sitting at the right hand of our Heavenly Father. Charlotte Herring Schwartz: All too soon, man breathes his last breath. But if one thing that man has said or one thing that man has done, causes one person to believe more strongly, or have more faith, then that man has done his job. I think that Uncle T was most definitely an overachiever in that area. He touched so many lives and caused so many people to believe...in themselves, in others and in God. Tammy Tanner Modessitt: I will miss you every time I step onto the campground and with every boiled peanut I will ever eat. Your gentility radiated important things that words never could. With deep love. Becki Berry: dont have a memory of the Nazarene Campground that doesnt include TW Mitchell. He was always present and active there. Such a gentle, kind and friendly man who always made me feel welcome. Thadd Paul Chafin I imagined this morning when you let me know that Uncle T is in heaven that Uncle Thad meeting him and saying brother TW when did you get here and them hugging each other, what a day glorious day that will be! Amy Tanis: Sorry for your loss dear friend. Initially I gasped when I read this because I know how hard it is to lose a loved one and I felt for you and your family, his friends and the community. Then I thought about everything your grandfather put into his life to get to where he is now. So, with tears of joy in my eyes, Im smiling for him, Im excited for him. He is there!! Everything he dedicated his life for was for this moment...and he is there! I know that those Golden Gates were WIDE open for him Catrina Chapman: Praying for you all! I love the Mitchells. They had a HUGE part in my upbringing. I miss the days of going to their house and hanging out with them both. They were a solace for me during many years. Pastor Belken: Ashwood is in mourning today for the loss of a great man! I only knew brother T for a short while but it felt like he was a part of my life for much longer. As the following pastor at Ashwood, I am honored to know that he has laid a wonderful foundation on which to build and has poured his heart into his people. Ashwood will always be Pastor Mitchells church and he is truly loved and missed! Sue Leviner Collins Thank you and other family members for sharing in the Home Going of a Mighty Man of God. I am sure he is tired, because he has been a faithful Christian, praying for others, showing love but mainly for living the life before others of what Christ is all about Daniel Cook: I first and foremost would like to thank Mr. Mitchell for being the Godly man he is and for the very positive impact that he has had on me and my family. He not only preached the word of God, but he also lives it every day. Mary Ruth Huff-Chafin Oh Stevie...my heart is broken. I feel so helpless. I can barely remember life w/o your grandparents. I love you and your family dearly. I love Uncle T and Darlin more than I even have words to express Bonnie Jones Shared: I feel inadequate in trying to convey just what Pastor Mitchell means to me. At my age, I know it sounds a bit strange, but Pastor Mitchell was my first pastor. I didn’t go to church regularly as a child. Pastor Mitchell was the first one to help me realize that God loves me, He really loves me. Nann Chafin: You know, probably the best Easter memory I have is when I was a little girl and we were at the campground and Uncle T spent the afternoon with just me and him & mom & dad in the tabernacle. He walked around the pews with a basket and hid Easter eggs for me so I could have a Easter egg hunt. We talk about it every single year. Its never been a more precious memory than this year. Im so glad we have that. He is such a giving man. It wasnt even for a group of children, but he used the space of that whole tabernacle just for one kid. And when youre little, that place is huge! Sammy Harrell: I remember coming to the Campground Work Day one year just before Camps started. It was really hot. Some time in the seventies. Weed eaters were a new thing. I had never used one. Reverend Mitchell assigned me to it and told me to weed eat around the pond. I ran that thing 3/4 of the day. Him and my Dad would be watching me. I finally walked all the way up from the pond to the Tabernacle and said,Reverend Mitchell I believe I could pull this grass up by hand quicker. This is the worst piece of equipment ever invented. He never even cracked a smile, He just looked at me and said,Well son thats the wrong blade. Then Him and Dad spent the rest of the day laughing at me. I will never forget it. Tony Lupton So many tears of joy right now. I am so thankful in growing up on the district that I had men like Uncle T to look up to. I will never forget how much love and encouragement he gave to my wife and I as we shared meals on the Santee Mission Area Pastors dinners while I was in Georgetown. When I think camp I think Uncle T. When I think Christian I think Uncle T. Carroll Wilson: When I think of T. W. Mitchell, I cant help but compare him to Paul and Jesus!!!! Surely T W has the heart of GOD Himself!!! I have NEVER seen a man more like JESUS than T W MITCHELL!! It is almost, as I look at T W, I am looking at JESUS, Himself!!! He has definitely made earth a better place because of his actions and He has also made Heaven a more populated place because of his actions!! Wow, how blessed one is, to be his Child or Grandchild!! T. W. and Miss Alice, Nancy and I want you all to know that we LOVE you both, so very much!!! Richard Guess It was so good to see preacher Tuesday! Hes known by lots of different terms of endearment but from the time I was a little boy until now, hes always just been preacher to me! He and Sister Mitchell shaped my life during some of my most formative years and Ill never be able to repay them. Tuesday he asked me, How much are you getting for a gallon of your honey these days? I replied, Preacher, your money is no good for my honey! My bees could never produce enough honey to even BEGIN to repay what I owe you, so for you, its FREE. After all, I never paid anything for the love he gave to me across the years...it has ALWAYS been FREE, just like the love of our Creator! I love you preacher and I always will! Jean Lee: We love this family so much! They have been a part of my life since first year of girls camp. They both have lived a life of Christian loves before us. Praying for Godstrength for the family during this time. Jimmy Blackman: I am so thankful for TW and the godly example he has been for so many over the years, and for me. Why would anyone volunteer a week each summer to drive a hot school bus and run sound and hang out with a bunch of rowdy teenagers? Because he loved us all, and he prayed with us and for us. He always knew what to say to us before each IMPACT concert to help us remember why we were singing. His poems made me laugh and made me cry. I still have copies of the camp newsletter that he printed at teen camp, with all the scoop--nothing escaped him at camp! He has been a dedicated pastor theologian and a model for so many of us in ministry. Wil Shook One Sunday morning when he was preaching, I dosed off and I woke up with a snort. He and everybody else was laughing, so I laughed along with them not knowing if it was about me or something he had said. Todd Webb Funny, he used to have a phrase that he would tease me. The year I played the organ for Impact tour, he always accused me of double clutching the organ. Even his teasing always told me he loved me. I wish I could play for him now. I would love that. ( The funniest part… I dont even know what double clutching is!) Im just imagining Jesus himself handing Uncle T a harmonica with the words, youre gonna need this in g this morning Karan Brewer Byrd: These two wonderful people were such a huge influence on my life. They served at Camden First for a long time. One memory I have is being at their house for dinner one Sunday ( dont remember exactly how old I was) but I remember eating and then both of them telling me what I had eaten was deer meat. Mrs. Mitchell said we knew if we told you before you ate that you wouldnt eat it and they were right, I wouldnt have. I have loved these 2 people for almost my entire life. Iwana Guess Ridgill: I can think of no two individuals who have influenced my spiritual life any more than Rev. T.W. and Alice Mitchell. He was my pastor from the time I was in first grade until after I graduated from high school--very significant years indeed. I listened to his words in his sermons, and I watched his life, and I saw the definition of faith and love lived and demonstrated. Nancy Wilson I will always remember him being steadfast - -always the same no matter when you saw him or what the situation. Also, you knew he loved, REALLY loved, everybody. One thing about him, that I really looked forward to, was hearing his poems at District Assembly. He was a great man, a legacy, whose absence will leave a hole in this life. He was Jesus to so many people and is probably just seeing some who made it through because of him and his life lived in dedication to God. Thank you Bro. T.W. for all you did and the life you lived. Deb Whitmire McLaughlin Steven M. Mellish he called me grandma because I was on Impact for 4 years instead of 3 like most. Like many I was the recipient of lots of HeeHaw verses - like when I sat on a rotten watermelon in the back of a pick up. He loved to remind me of that.... Heaven will be filled with people that got there through his direction, love and ministry. I can only imagine the amount of people he has led to Christ. Again, what an amazing man of God! I have held my memories close to my heart and always will. Finally I am thankful and honored to share words and memories on behalf of my own immediate family: Shannon writes: My favorite memory of Papa is how in a crowded room he made you feel as if you were the only one in the room and certainly the most important. The smile he always had on his face when he took pictures with me comes in at a close second. JT writes: The best memory I have of my papa is how he has been there for me when my dad deployed. There was just something about papa that always gave me the assurance that everything was gonna be alright for my dad while he was gone. The last time I went fishing with Papa and my dad at the swamp we got all the way to the railroad trussel and we couldn’t get the boat up because there were logs. We ended up having to turn the boat around but we still caught plenty of fish. The last time my dad deployed was papa taught me how to change the taillight in my dads truck. I still have the flashlight he gave me when we worked on the truck together. I also am thankful that when I was ten, my papa gave me my first pocket knife and I still have that on my night stand at home. My papa was a great man and I love him for showing me how to be a real man. I love you papa! Shane shares: When you think of my Grandpa You think Godly, Caring, teacher, fisherman and Mr. do it all. I think of his wise advice. My brother Tad and I were staying with Grandpa and Grandma one summer at the campgrounds and in our fantastic little minds, we come up with a brilliant plan. We decided to throw smoke bombs and fire crackers under grandma’s car. Not so brilliant Id say as were getting switches off the tree for grandma to use! So, need-less to say we did what grandsons do, we went with grandpa fishing. And in his soft gentle voice, he offered his advise....bet you wont do that I again! And we never did. This from Stef......I dont think I can talk. I .am .... Just so broken, but trying to keep things under control. I just want him to know that we are healthy and that with all this happening, my strongest desire is to raise his first great great grandson in the way he has taught us to live. His life has truly been something special to us and I hope he will watch over us as we begin our journey to parenthood soon.. I think my favorite memory of papa was out behind the cabin one year. We had been fishing, and he showed me how to skin it and fry it for dinner! It was just he and I out there, and I probably asked at least twenty questions he was so patient and talked me through every detail when I missed something. It was Such a perfect moment for me, and it really highlighted his personality. fish and patience! Im going to miss him so much!
Posted on: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:35:02 +0000