Our History

    Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc., located at 612 South Main Street, Darlington, SC, was established in July 1967 by Mr. Eugene Josey, Sr., and Mr. Callis M. Mitchell, Jr., the second oldest of two Black-owned funeral homes in the city at that time.

      In the early 1940s, the location at 612 South Main St was owned by Mr. George Casley, mortician & manager of Casley Funeral Home and brother of Mrs. Charlotte Casley Jordan of Jordan Funeral Home. After his death in 1961, this establishment was changed to Casley-Josey Funeral Home under the management and ownership of Mr. Eugene Josey, Sr., Licensed Funeral Director.

      In 1967, after the death of an associate, Sylvester “Vest” Greene, Mr. Josey became partners with Mr. Callis M. Mitchell, Jr., Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer.

      Mr. Eugene Josey died on June 24, 1975, and co-ownership passed to his wife, Mrs. Ernestine Wright Josey. Mrs. Ernestine Wright Josey and Mr. Callis Mitchell oversaw the incorporation of the business and worked together for over 18 years until her death on April 23, 1985. Mrs. Josey's children, Ms. Eleanor Josey Sims, Licensed Funeral Director, and Mr. Douglas E. Josey, Sr. were passed the torch, and they served this community together alongside Mr. Callis Mitchell until his death on August 8, 1988. Co-ownership was passed to his wife, Mrs. Ethel Rogers Mitchell, Licensed Funeral Director, and retired Darlington County schoolteacher and truant officer.

      As the only Black women-owned funeral home in Darlington County for over 30 years, Mrs. Ethel R. Mitchell and Ms. Eleanor Josey Sims worked together as a team to ensure that bereaved families would have a affordable, dignified, and honorable closure no matter the type of funeral families chose.  

      Mrs. Ethel R. Mitchell died on November 29, 2017, after faithfully serving her community with love and dignity. She is dearly missed by all, but left her mark on the community who still remember her kindness. Co-ownership was passed down to her children, Ms. Beverly L. Mitchell and Mr. Lloyd M. Mitchell who remain dutiful co-owners of the funeral home. Continuing the Mitchell legacy in the funeral home business is one of her two granddaughters, Dr. Latoya Mitchell Hodges, Licensed Funeral Director, who is a Darlington native and an accomplished medical writer and scientific publications manager.

      Now, 58 years later, under the skillful management of Ms. Eleanor Josey Sims and with the aid of her professional staff, Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc., remains resolute, faithfully serving this community with grace and maintaining the legacy of the giants that have paved the way as they fulfill the motto, “Where Love Is Forever.”

The management and staff at Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc., have provided quality services to families for many years and remain dedicated to provide the same quality service in the years to come.

 During your time of need, you can count on us to help you get through this difficult time. 

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