CW3 Ret. Russel Mitchell, 50, of Fayetteville, passed away Friday, April 1, 2016. Russ was born in Andalusia, AL. He was the son of the late Ashton Mitchell and Lila Dunham.

Russ was a retired Army veteran who served as an 82nd Airborne ammunitions warrant officer. He served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Russ was awarded numerous medals including the Bronze Star. After his twenty-one years of military service, Russ began his new career at FORSCOM as the G4 Ammunition Team Leader. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Loralee Mitchell; his children, Matthew Russel Mitchell, and Megen Ashley Mitchell; his brothers, David Wayne Mitchell, and Tony McGinty; his sisters, Cathy Lynn Douglas, and Vickie Ellen Mitchell; brothers-in-law, Mike Van Eck, Chris Van Eck, Josh Van Eck, and Joel Van Eck; sister-in-law, Heather Van Eck, and many nieces and nephews.

Russ treasured his family, friends, and Alabama Football – ROLL TIDE! The family will receive friends on Friday, April 8, 2016, from 5 pm to 7 pm at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at Jernigan-Warren on Saturday, April 9 at 2 pm. Burial will be on Tuesday, April 12 at 12 pm at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to blueridgeconservancy.org.