(Published Courtesy of the Red Bay News)
Red Bay and Franklin County have lost a friend and a loyal ambassador. Mitchell Glen Vinson, known as Glen, Red Bay businessman and civic leader passed away Thursday, March 13, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama following a brief illness. He was the owner of Piggy Wiggly and Ace Hardware in Red Bay and Belmont. He belonged to several civic organizations including the Red Bay Civitan Club and The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, where he served on The Board of Directors. He worked tirelessly to promote Red Bay and Franklin County, always presenting the place he called home in a positive light.
According to Sherye Price, Executive Director of The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, the impact Glen had on the area is something of which we can all be proud.
“It is hard to put into words the impact Glen had on our community and on me personally,” said Sherye Price. “He always led with a genuine compassion, always motivated by helping others rather than a personal gain.” She said he was not only a respected board member, but also a valued friend and mentor. “Although I’ve only had the opportunity to meet a few of his family members over the years, I feel like I know them all from how often he spoke of them with so much love. My heart and prayers are with his family,” she said.
While the business and civic communities will mis his leadership and support it is his family who will miss him most. His wife of 46 years, Kathy, his two children, Jason Vinson (Jessica) and Ashley Vinson Blackburn (Gary); His grandchildren, Jalen Vinson, Jaycee Vinson, Jaxon Vinson, Lila Blackburn, Kyla Blackburn, and Bella Blackburn. His mother, Anne Mitchell Vinson, his brother David (Carla), his sister Debbie Vinson Pharr (Greg), and several nieces and nephews. They will miss his enthusiastic manner at family gatherings as well as in everyday life. According to all who knew him, his family was his earthly treasure. Just as Glen’s business life was centered around how to be a force of moving forward, when it came to his home and family, he was focused on how he could add to their joy of living and make it count for something.
When Glen and Kathy’s children were attending Red Bay School, they were always there for any event from sports to other activities to cheer them on. When grandchildren came along, the same was true. They attended sporting events and helped with other aspects of the school in which the grandchildren are involved. A friend of Glen’s grandson said he felt sad when he heard of “Mr. Glen’s” passing. “Mr. Glen was always there, at every basketball game,” he said. “This is so hard to believe that he won’t be there next year.”
Glen was a devoted member of The First Baptist Church of Red Bay where he served as an active Deacon and helped with outreach ministries of the church. He was a Sunday School teacher, a Discipleship Leader and was currently serving as District Director for Gideons International. According to the pastor of Red Bay First Baptist Church, Bro. Bill Harper, Glen will be greatly missed. “Red Bay First Baptist Church is certainly going to miss him. It is hard to imagine the church without him. Glen was a friendly, out-going person who made it a point to welcome everyone who came to church,” Bro. Harper said.
The church pastor said Glen was a great help with whatever the need. “Whenever I had a question about the history of our church or even when I needed to know where something was kept in the church, Glen was the one I would go to.” Bro. Harper says he never asked Glen to do anything in the church that he refused to do. “Sometimes he would have to decline because he had another obligation, but as far as refusing to do something because he didn’t want to do it, I never saw that happen.”
Bro. Harper went on to say that Glen would speak to groups, and once on a Sunday night when Bro. Harper had to take his son to the hospital, Glen preached the Sunday night sermon for him. “Glen never did anything for ‘show,’ and he wanted no credit for what he did, yet he made himself available to help wherever and whenever he was needed,” he said. “We all know how much Glen will be missed in our church, yet he was a teacher, and he led by example. He has lived a life of service and because of that there will be those who will step up, follow his example, and help us carry on,” Bro. Harper said. The pastor concluded by saying that no one would miss Glen as much as his family. “We all need to pray for them,” he said.
According to all who spoke of Glen Vinson one phrase always seemed to be understood: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” His parents, Homer and Anne Mitchell Vinson taught Glen and his siblings well because they, too, worked diligently in Red Bay First Baptist Church, as well as in the civic and business aspects of the community. Both had grown up here and graduated from Red Bay High School. After Homer and Anne Vinson married, Homer taught school in Limestone County for six years. Then, they returned to Red Bay and Homer fulfilled his dream of owning his own business.
In March of 1963, Homer and Anne Vinson opened the first self-service supermarket in Red Bay. Piggly Wiggly. The supermarket offered shopping carts and check out counters, something no grocery store in Red Bay had offered before. Although in a different location today, Piggly Wiggly Supermarket remains a leading business in the city of Red Bay. While operating their business Homer and Anne Vinson devoted themselves to making sure Piggly Wiggly served Red Bay well and Red Bay returned the favor. Homer and Anne also did all they could to help those less fortunate. This is the atmosphere in which Glen and his siblings grew up---a life of service.
After Homer passed away several years ago, Glen took over management of Piggly Wiggly in Red Bay. Today, his children, Jason and Ashley, manage the business. Ace Hardware has been added in Red Bay, located inside the same building as Piggly Wiggly. Jason, in addition to his work with the family business, is serving his second term as a member of the Red Bay City Council. He was first elected in 2016. The life of service continues.
Red Bay Mayor Charlene Fancher said Glen’s death is a blow to the area. “The City of Red Bay is deeply saddened with the passing of Glen Vinson,” she said. “Glen never regarded himself as a ‘remarkable’ person, however, he was remarkable to me. I consider him remarkable because he was dedicated to his God and his church, his family, our city and our county,” she said. “In his everyday actions he proved his love through his hard work and commitment to all.”
She said Glen was a “working behind the scenes” type of person and did not want recognition or to be put in the spotlight for what he did. “I sincerely appreciate Glen’s love for Red Bay and his passion for preserving Red Bay’s history,” she said. I will never forget our “Red Bay discussions” at Piggly Wiggly and the many times he stopped me to ask me about my family and my mama,” Mayor Fancher said. She continued, “Glen was a genuine person, and his actions spoke louder than words. He had a kind way of making people feel important and loved. I consider that type of person very remarkable. He will be missed by Red Bay because the city loved him as well.”
Glen greatly enjoyed the outdoors and being a part of nature. Hiking was one of his favorite pastimes. He walked the woods and hiking trails not only in Red Bay and around Franklin County, but he hiked the Appalachian Trail a few times as well. When he did, he always had stories to tell of what he had seen and enjoyed as he hiked. God’s creation was something to be enjoyed as far as he was concerned. It was also to be taken care of. Glen devoted a lot of time to picking up litter and urging others, especially young people, to do the same.
Red Bay and Franklin County were as much a part of Glen Vinson as the air he breathed. Glen grew up in Red Bay, always enjoying being a part of the supermarket his parents opened. He was fascinated by people and was often found strolling through the store talking with customers. That continued from his young years until his last time in Piggly Wiggly. He was an honor student at Red Bay High School, graduating in 1977. He participated in sports as well as other school activities. All who knew him said that whatever Glen Vinson was a part of, he gave it all he had.
Glen’s funeral was held Sunday, March 16, at Red Bay First Baptist Church with Bro. Bill Harper, Rusty Curbow, and Jeremy Robinson officiating. The burial was in Red Bay City Cemetery. Glen was preceded in death by his father, Homer Glen Vinson, a brother, Jeff Vinson, his grandparents, and other loved ones and friends. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to The Gideons, Franklin West Camp, P.O. Box 1203, Red Bay, AL 35582.
