Long Serving Geneva Physician Dr. Buddy Mitchum Passes Away
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: January 27, 2011
A memorial service will be Saturday, January 29, 2011, at the First Baptist Church in Geneva with Dr. Ralph Thomas and Rev. Nathan Carroll officiating and Pittman Funeral Home of Geneva directing.
The family will receive friends from 5 until 8 p.m. Friday, January 28, in the chapel of Pittman Funeral Home in Geneva. At other times, the family will be at home on 569 Goose Hollow Road, Geneva, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church in Geneva or to the Sharon & Dr. Buddy Mitchum University of Alabama Scholarship Fund.
Dr. Mitchum was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth; a sister, June Johnson who was from Montgomery, a nephew, Ricky Johnson of Pinson, AL; and his parents, Ocie Dee & Bonnie Mitchum of Montevallo, AL.
Dr. Mitchum, affectionately known as “Dr. Buddy”, served two terms in the United States Naval Reserve and was activated during the Korean War. He was the Honor Man of Company 55, Norfork, VA.
He graduated from Montevallo High School, attended the University of Alabama before his military service and graduated with honors from Spring Hill College in Mobile in 1955. Dr. Buddy graduated from the University of Alabama Medical School in 1959. He interned at Creighton University Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska and Huey P. Long, Pineville, LA. He established his family practice in Geneva in 1962.
Dr. Mitchum was the original Director of Compassionate Hands Hospice and served as chief of staff at Wiregrass Medical Center several times. He served on the Wiregrass Medical Center Board of Directors for twenty-three years. Dr. Buddy served on the Geneva City School Board, was president of the Geneva Quarterback Club, the band parent’s organization, and served as president of the Geneva Chapter of the University of Alabama Alumni Chapter. He was a charter member of the Festival on the Rivers Event and started the road race which was supported by the Geneva County Medical Society. During his practice he served in all offices of the Geneva County Medical Society.
Dr. Mitchum has been a member of the First Baptist Church in Geneva since 1962, serving in major positions of the church. He loved being his son’s Royal Ambassador leader and singing bass in the church choir.
Many honors were given to Dr. Buddy through the years but most recently the City of Geneva honored his years of dedication to the practice of medicine in rural Alabama and the Florida area. He continued to make house calls, serving the people until his recent retirement in June, 2009.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon Lambert Mitchum of Geneva; his sons, Dr. Dale Mitchum (Cyndi) of Geneva; Mark Van Mitchum of Panama City, FL, Christopher Bain Mitchum (Kara) of Robertsdale, AL, Jaye Todd Wood (Selina) of Albertville; his daughter, Lisa Wood McGowan (Gary) of Dothan; twelve grandchildren, Natalie, Cameron, Conner, and Trent Mitchum, Tyler Mitchum, Wood and Seth McGowan, Olivia and Maggie Wood, and Cliff and Tabitha Holder; sister-in-law, Margot Ashbury of Montgomery; brother-in-law, Don C. Williams of Montgomery; nephews, Gary Johnson of Montgomery, John Roberts of Texas, Robert and Michael Moyer of Seattle, WA, Donald Williams of Guntersville, Al and Stephen Williams of Montgomery.
