Ivan Philip Mitchem

MITCHEM, IVAN PHILIP, age 26, of Chelsea, Alabama, passed away Friday morning, December 24, 2010. He was a 2003 graduate of Chelsea High School, where he excelled as an outside linebacker on the varsity football team. Ivan studied psychology and was active in the TKE Fraternity at the University of West Alabama for one year before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force for training to become an air traffic controller. After his honorable discharge, he returned to the Birmingham, Alabama, area and was employed with Motivated Movers. Ivan was preceded in death by his mother, Lois Athea McDaniel, and his grandmother, Teresa Joan McDaniel. Survivors include Ivan's wife, Lakesha Mitchem; parents, Joe and Rita Mitchem; one son, Xchylar Xyncere Mitchem; sisters, Anna Mitchem, Teresa Oswald (Mike), Marci Sumpter, and Lynnette Sumpter; brothers, Jamie Mitchem, Kevin Mitchem (Deidra), Justin Mitchem, Jared Mitchem (Elizabeth); Ryan Mitchem (Stacey), Todd Diffee (Jenna), Greg Crim, Zack Myers, Jason Reach, John Hillin, Jay Fitzhugh, Sir Nance, Brien Vickers, Terrell Watkins, and Adam Cantrell; aunts, Joni McCarthy (Toni), Barbara Currier (Tommy), and Donna Chester; uncle, Philip McDaniel (Pat); and many cousins who loved Ivan dearly. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama. The funeral service will be at 7 p.m. the same evening in Southern Heritage Chapel, Pelham. The graveside service will be at 1 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at North Atlanta Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Georgia.