Terry Wayne Mitchell, of Florence, was born January 31, 1944. He died Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at the North Alabama Medical Center with his family by his side.

Terry was a very selfless man and dedicated his life to helping others and bringing joy to their lives.

He grew up on Colbert Heights Mountain and graduated from Deshler High School in 1962. It was there Coach Buddy Moore awarded him the nickname "Possum" when he took his fellow football players up the mountain to introduce them to possum hunting. Terry was named to the 1961 All-TVC Team, 4-A All-Star Team and was selected to play in the Alabama High School All-Star game played at the University of Alabama. He furthered his education at The University of the South (Sewanee) on an academic scholarship. He played football there but after a shoulder injury ended his football career, he transferred to Auburn University where he fell in love with the Tigers. He graduated in 1967 and his love of the Tigers never ended. If he wasn't at games watching the eagle soar, he was watching them on TV or listening on the radio.

He was a lifetime member of the Auburn Alumni Club, a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Auburn and had been inducted into the Colbert County Sports Hall of Fame.

Terry went on to work as a Federal Agent for 36 years and after retirement worked as a self-employed enrolled agent. He proudly served in the Army National Guard for 34 years.

Terry and his wife Linda recently celebrated their 50 th wedding anniversary and Linda said of him, "Terry was my rock, he was my everything. He was the most gentle, caring and patient man I have ever known. He was the love of my life. He was a loving husband and wonderful father to our girls and the best Papa to his granddaughter. He would always see the good in others and make a friend of them."

He is survived by his wife Linda Smith Mitchell, daughters Lora Ashley Mitchell, Terri Leigh Mitchell and Robin Theroux Mitchell; granddaughter Alexandria Hope Mitchell; sister Martha Jane M. Carpenter; brothers Rauney L. Mitchell (Wanda) and William (Billy) J. Mitchell (Joyce); mother-in-law Jessie T. Smith; sisters-in-law Betty Wilson (Dieter Inskinski), Roberta McKinney and Mary Jane Finley Drake (Butch) and his beloved pet, Harlie D. He was preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Lorah Grissom Mitchell; sister Kathleen M. Gibbs; brother Leonard Donald (L.D.) Mitchell, Jr.; father-in-law Robert L. "Egghead" Smith, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. The graveside service will be held Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Piney Grove Cemetery, Tuscumbia, with Rev. Carl Malm and Rev. Dr. Terry Stubblefield offciating. Terry's nephew Donnie Carpenter and Michael Curtis will provide music.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Brewer, Robert Butterfield, Drew Finley, John Maner, John Martin and Mike Marino. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Deshler Class of 1962 football team, his AU Pike fraternity brothers and his Joe Wheeler buddies.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the SAAC/ Terry W. Mitchell Endowed Scholarship for a deserving student from the Shoals area. They can be made to Auburn Alumni Association, attn: Scholarship Department, 317 South College Street, Auburn, AL 36849. Otherwise, please consider a contribution to the charity of your choice.

Elkins Funeral Home is assisting the family.