Wilbur Mitcham
Wilbur Mitcham | |
|---|---|
 Wilbur “Chef” Mitcham | |
| Born | December 10, 1923 |
| Died | June 15, 2003 (aged 79) |
| Spouse | Annie Mae Leonard Mitcham |
| Culinary career | |
Previous restaurant(s)
| |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | U.S. Army |
Wilbur Mitcham (December 10, 1923 - June 15, 2003) was an American chef.
Early life
[edit]Mitcham briefly served in the U.S. Army as a field artilleryman during World War II but was medically discharged for health reasons. Upon his discharge from the Army he went to New York City. In New York, he studied cooking under an Asian chef.
Career
[edit]Mitcham returned to Macon and landed a position as a short order cook with Len Berg's Restaurant in 1943. "Chef", as he was so affectionately known by his constituents and friends, served as the senior chef cook of Len Berg's Restaurant for over 60 years until he took ill.[1][2][3] He cooked for Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Joe Dimaggio.
Personal life
[edit]Mitcham was married for over 60 years to Annie Mae Leonard. Together they raised eleven children, Patricia A. Mitcham, Ernest Tobias (nephew), Samaria R. Mitcham, Cozy L. Mitcham, Wilhelmina Mitcham, Lydia M. Mitcham, Mary L. Mitcham, Zachery S. Mitcham, Wilma F. Mitcham, Charlotte B. Mitcham, and Julia M. Mitcham. He fathered two other children, a daughter, Laverne Patterson and a son, Eric Jackson. He died on Father's Day 2003.
Mitcham is featured in the book “Remembering Len Berg's Restaurant”. He was the father of Samaria (Mitcham) Bailey and “The Gay Preacher’s Wife” author Lydia Meredith and is featured in her book.
Further reading
[edit]- Campbell, Will D. (1995). The Stem of Jesse: The Costs of Community at a 1960s Southern School. Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press. pp. ix, 212 pp 110–111; 24 cm.. ISBN 0865544492. Miller, p. 111.
References
[edit]- ^ "RING THE BELL LEN BERG'S COOK SHOWS HIS LOVE WITH EVERY MEAL HE PREPARES". 17 January 1998. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ "LEN BERG'S DAMAGED BY FIRE". 11 August 1998. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ "Len Bergs in Macon Remembered". 10 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
External links
[edit]- Wilbur Mitcham from the Georgia Encyclopedia
- Remembering Len Bergs Restaurant