J. Mitchell Elrod, Jr.
September 18, 1921 ~ December 9, 2017
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
J. Mitchell Elrod was born in Jefferson, GA in 1921 to Julius M. and Sarah Kathryn Tribble Elrod. He was reared on the campus of Berry College where his father was a professor of agriculture. Mr. Elrod graduated from Berry College in 1941 and remained devoted to Berry throughout his life. He served on the alumni council, as President of the Alumni Association and as a Trustee of Berry. He and his wife Cleone also established a scholarship to support students of Education at Berry.
He also attended the U.S. Naval Academy, eventually becoming a naval aviator and Commanding Officer of a training squadron for French aviators during World War II. He was awarded an honorary commission as Captain, Command Pilot Wings and a commendation by the French Navy for his service. He continued in the U.S. Naval Reserve after the war and retired in 1981 at the rank of Captain.
His early career found him at Equifax where he was the Executive Director of a subsidiary conducting market research. He later took those same skills to found his own successful market research company from which he retired in 1986. During this career he was an active member of the American Marketing Association, becaming the national vice-president and the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.
Mr. and Mrs. Elrod were founding members of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, where Mr. Elrod served on the vestry and sang in the choir.
He married the former Cleone Carter, of Alma, GA in 1952 and they had four children: Beverly Elrod of Greenwood, MS; Edwin M. Elrod of Downingtown, PA; Charles C. Elrod of Ithaca, NY; and James T. Elrod of Atlanta, GA. Mr. Elrod is survived by his wife, all four children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 11,at 1:00 p.m. in the Health Care Chapel at Deerfield.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the J. Mitchell and Cleone C. Elrod Scholarship care of the Advancement Office, Berry College, 2277 Martha Berry HWY NW, Mt. Berry, GA 30165-9987.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.
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So sorry to hear of Mitch’s passing I made proposals to Mitch’s company while I was manager of Bottler Research for The Coca-Cola Company. My prayer is that God will grant peace and comfort for all the family and friends.