Mitcham briefly served in the U.S. Army as a field artilleryman during World War II but was medically discharged for health reasons.

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.

He fathered two other children, a daughter, Laverne Patterson and a son, Eric Jackson.

He was the father of Samaria (Mitcham) Bailey and “The Gay Preacher’s Wife” author Lydia Meredith and is featured in her book.