Clara Barrow Mitchell

Clara Barrow Mitchell was born November 11, 1931 in Raleigh, North Carolina where she lived most of her life.

Clara was the seventh in a sibling group of 10, and was the last of her brothers and sisters to pass away.

Clara attended Hugh Morson High School. As a young woman she worked as a window dresser for several department stores in downtown Raleigh. She also worked as a long-distance telephone operator. Clara married L.C. Mitchell, the love of her life, on September 6, 1952. She was a totally devoted wife and enjoyed taking care of her husband and home.

L.C. was enlisted in the US Marine Corp when he and Clara first met. His sister, Mary, introduced them. It was love at first sight. After they married, they lived for a while on base at Camp LeJeune, NC. They enjoyed a cross country trip visiting many states and tourist attractions when LC had reporting duties at Camp Pendleton, CA. After he was discharged, they settled in Raleigh.

Clara had an artist’s spirit and an eye for color. She used coloring pencils and oil paints to bring life to pictures. She enjoyed crafting clothes from patterns and cloth. Clara also enjoyed painting and redecorating her home. She was very good at refinishing furniture. In his retirement, Clara assisted LC with his wood crafts. He would build, she would paint. Clara decorated beautiful Christmas trees and would arrange presents in a colorful array underneath the tree.

Clara and LC were founding members of Layden Memorial United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC. LC was a beloved Sunday School teacher and church leader. Clara assisted with Vacation Bible School, often planning and supervising the crafts and snacks. She also assisted with preparing and dressing the sanctuary for worship.

Although Clara and LC did not have children, there was no lack of kids hanging around their house. They graciously hosted out-of-town family members, with kids in tow, when they came to visit. Magically there was a place for everyone to sleep and enough food to go around. Their house was Christmas central for the Davis kids (nieces and nephews). Clara and L.C. would hide gifts in their attic until early Christmas morning, and then assist with the transfer of gifts over to the Davis house. The Davis kids were often visitors at their house, given that the Mitchells and the Davis’s lived across the street from one another. Clara and L.C. also supported children from the Methodist Children's Home.

Clara and L.C. opened their home to Clara’s mother, who lived with them during her last years. Clara eventually provided 24/7 care to her mother due to her illnesses and disabilities.

Clara also assisted L.C. in caring for his aging parents in Alabama. They made many a long trip to Alabama to keep in touch with his family. As a child, her “special daughter”, Sandra, would excitedly wait for them to arrive, swinging way high on her swing to catch the first glimpse of them coming over the hill and then down the road toward the Mitchell home place.

Clara was a good southern cook. She was known for her fried corn bread and “burnt steak”. She was a choc-o-holic. Clara loved anything chocolate: candy, pies, cake, pudding, ice cream, you name it. Pepsi was her beverage of choice. Her idea of a great meal was 2 cookies and a Pepsi. Clara enjoyed southern Gospel music, sitting on the front porch talking with friends and family and counting jets as they crossed the sky. She was a big UNC Tar Heel fan. She would often call her friend, Janet, after a ball game to either celebrate or commiserate.

Clara was preceded in death by her beloved husband, L.C., in 1993. She lovingly and faithfully cared for him during his final illness, and was never the same after he passed away. Now they are together again, and her heart has been made whole.

Clara is survived by three “special daughters”: Sandra Ingle, of Calhoun, GA; Bonnie Rodgers of Stephens City, VA, and Kelly Stewart of Greensboro, NC. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.

The family is being assisted by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, St. Mary’s Street, Raleigh, NC.

A time for family visitation is scheduled for Sunday, June 5, 2022, from 6 pm to 7 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow on Monday morning June 6, 2022, at 11 am at Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh NC.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for Gina and her staff at Elsie’s Place Family Care Home. They lavished Clara with so much love and support during her final, difficult months. As Clara would say, “It’s hell getting old.” Gina and her staff made Clara laugh and sing, and treated her with such respect and dignity. They are angels, all of them.

We also wish to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to Dr. Charles Wehbie. He helped us to navigate the insults of aging with great thoughtfulness, patience and kindness. He is a rare breed of doctor.

Clara did not wish to have a lot of flowers at her funeral. Instead, she preferred to have just one rose.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial contribution be made to either:

The Methodist Home for Children (https://www.mhfc.org/) or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (St Jude.org)