Wilbur Mitcham

Wilbur Mitcham
Wilbur “Chef” Mitcham
Born	(1923-12-10)December 10, 1923
Died	June 15, 2003(2003-06-15) (aged 79) Georgia, U.S.
Spouse	Annie Mae Leonard Mitcham
Culinary career
Previous restaurant Len Berg's (1943–2003)
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Branch	U.S. Army

Wilbur Mitcham (December 10, 1923 - June 15, 2003) was an American chef.

Early life

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

Mitcham returned to Macon and landed a position as a short order cook with Len Berg's Restaurant in 1943. "Chef", ^[1] as he was 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. ^{[2] [3] [4]} He cooked for Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Joe Dimaggio.

Personal life

Mitcham was married to Annie Mae Leonard for over 60 years, and together they raised eleven children: Patricia A. Mitcham, Ernest Tobias (nephew), Samaria (Mitcham) Bailey, Cozy L. Mitcham, Wilhelmina Mitcham, Lydia Meredith, Mary L. Mitcham, Zachery S. Mitcham, Wilma F. Mitcham, Charlotte B. Mitcham, and Julia M. Mitcham. He also fathered two additional children, a daughter, Laverne Patterson, and a son, Eric Jackson. Mitcham died on Father's Day in 2003.

Mitcham is featured in the book Remembering Len Berg's Restaurant. ^[5]

Further reading

• 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

1. "Chef"
2. "RING THE BELL LEN BERG'S COOK SHOWS HIS LOVE WITH EVERY MEAL HE PREPARES". 17 January 1998. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
3. "LEN BERG'S DAMAGED BY FIRE". 11 August 1998. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
4. "Len Bergs in Macon Remembered". 10 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
5. Remembering Len Berg's Restaurant

External links

• Wilbur Mitcham from the Georgia Encyclopedia
• Remembering Len Bergs Restaurant