Tuesday, the Pearl River Community College family lost one of its members with the passing of longtime sports information director Mitch Deaver.
Deaver was 62-years-old.
PRCC Director of Public Relations Chuck Abadie said Deaver was in his 19th year with the college at the time of his passing.
“As the dean of junior colleges sports information directors in Mississippi, Mitch excelled in such areas as photography, sports writing and graphic design,” Abadie said. “His abilities have been recognized by the Mississippi Press Association for many years. He often shared his photography work with other schools around the state. That was the type of individual he was. He was very dedicated to his profession and had an excellent memory as far as Pearl River athletics was concerned.”
Deaver grew up near Purvis and was the second oldest of five children, his brother Mac Deaver said. He is also survived by his three sisters; Michelle, Melissa and Melanie.
Mitch Deaver was a graduate of Purvis High School and Pearl River Community College, Mac Deaver said.
“The college was his whole life,” Mac Deaver said. “Even though he continued to live at our family home, his working life was in Pearl River County.”
During his career, Mitch Deaver worked for other media outlets including The Poplarville Democrat, The Picayune Item, The Booster and Lamar County News.
Mac Deaver spoke of his brother’s array of talents, which included photography, writing, graphic design and playing musical instruments.
“What you saw was what you got with Mitch,” Mac Deaver said. “He loved PRCC and the athletics program. That was his life. He was unmarried and had no children. In essence, he was married to PRCC. Mitch did what he enjoyed and was one of the good guys. He was one of a kind, funny, irreverent and just always a friend.”
Funeral arrangements were pending by press time Tuesday.