Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memoria

With its beginning on the corner of Morgan and Wilmington Street, Mitchell Funeral Home is the successor to several funeral establishments in the Raleigh-Wake County area.

Erasmus D. Haynes, carpenter and cabinet maker, opened his business on that corner in downtown Raleigh in 1874. He continued to operate at this location making furniture, cabinets, and custom-made coffins. As a maker of coffins, he became the undertaker - the person called upon to "undertake the task of the burial of the dead."

In 1885, Lorenzo C. Bagwell opened a furniture store and undertaking shop at 12 East Martin Street. Mr. Bagwell had learned the undertaking trade as an employee of Johnson and Barber, a general store that had an undertaking department. In 1890 he moved the business to 220 East Martin Street and merged his business with that of Mr. Haynes. After about two years Mr. Haynes left the business to devote time to the crafting of fine furniture. Mr. Bagwell continued the undertaking parlor under the name of L.C. Bagwell Undertaker.

In 1894, George A (Gus) Strickland, a Raleigh city policeman, decided to become involved in undertaking. He purchased Mr. Bagwell's business and changed the name to the Raleigh Casket Company. In 1895, Mr. Strickland moved his business to 126 South Wilmington Street, operating there until 1910 when he relocated to 130 East Morgan Street. Still needing more space to operate he then moved the business to 19 West Hargett Street. Mr. Strickland incorporated under the laws of North Carolina, changing the name to Strickland Undertaking Company, and began selling shares of the company to friends and other businessmen in the community. One year later they moved to 127 West Hargett Street and was renamed Wake Undertaking Company. The major stockholders of the company were Mr. T.E. Green, Mr. W.F. Moody, and Mr. A.H. Mooneyham.

Nearing retirement age, Mr. Strickland's firm moved to his home on Elm Street, and the corporation employed Mr. Joseph H. Mitchell as the firm's funeral director and embalmer. A large home across from Nash Square was purchased in 1923, and the company moved again, to 222 West Hargett Street. The name was changed for the final time to Mitchell Funeral Home. This was the first time since the business was established that it occupied an actual dwelling, so the terminology "funeral home" was used instead of "undertaking parlor."

In 1926, Joseph Mitchell left the employment of the corporation and was replaced as manager by Moncure native Harlowe W. Mims. Mr. Mims continued to manage the company and acquired shares of its stock from the minor shareholders until his death in 1955. During these many years, he became the major shareholder and under his leadership, the enterprise prospered and became one of the leading funeral establishments in North Carolina.

With the growth of the business, a larger building was needed to provide adequate facilities for the families being served by Mitchell Funeral Home. A parcel of land was purchased on Saint Mary's Street; a 14,500 square foot building was erected, and the facility opened in February 1953. The new Mitchell Funeral Home was proclaimed to be the most modern of that time in North Carolina. After Mr. Mims death, the business continued under the direction of his widow, Nora Park Mims, with the assistance from her son-in-law, Thel G. Boyette, and brother-in-law, Joseph H. (Tom) Mims. In 1958, the Mims' eldest daughter Cornelia Mims Whyte, came to work as corporate secretary. Two years later, Mr. Boyette resigned, and Raleigh native T. Wrey Watkins was appointed manager. The company continued to flourish and conduct funerals for people of walks of life in the most dignified and caring fashion.

In 1974 the building at 600 Saint Mary's Street was completely renovated and the parking lot enlarged, in 1993 Mitchell Funeral Home built a second location at 7209 Glenwood Ave. next to Raleigh Memorial Park where it operates today as Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park. Later in 2007 the Saint Mary's Street location was closed.

Mitchell Funeral Home today is operated by local funeral directors and staff with a total of over 130 years of experience and caring in the funeral industry. We are committed to maintaining the high level of tradition and excellence in service which you've come to expect. In 2006 both Mitchell Funeral Home and Raleigh Memorial Park became part of the Dignity Memorial Network in Raleigh which also includes the Brown-Wynne Funeral Homes.