Obituary for Archie Lee Mutts Sr.
Archie L. Mutts Sr. affectionately known by so many names such as PaPa, Daddy, Dad, Big Archie, Pumpkin, and Poppa Mutts went home peacefully to be with the LORD on July 13, 2020. He was born in Rocky Mount, NC to the late Johnny and Roena Arrington Mutts.
Dad was so many things to so many people. He was a man who led by example. Kind, gentle, smart, friendly, forgiving, genuinely caring and accepting of others are just a few of the adjectives that have been used to describe him. The loves of his life were The LORD JESUS CHRIST first and foremost and family. As he always said whenever you greeted him “I’m blessed by the best”. His love of family, friends and loved ones set the example for the rest of us of how to love and treat others in our daily lives.
Dad’s best friends and closest confidants were his wife, who he lovingly referred to as “Mommy” and his son who he called “Jr” and #1. He had a unique and special bond with each one of them. Dad selflessly worked to ensure that his wife and his son excelled in their academic pursuits and achieved their professional goals.
Dad was welcoming but very protective of family, which extended beyond bloodlines. Those closest to him earned special nicknames that they all came to cherish such as “his other Number 1” (his grandson Ryan), “Peach” (his granddaughter Rachel) and “My Girl” (his daughter-in-law Tané).
While he was stern when he needed to be, Dad didn’t yell or elevate his voice. He had a very calming demeanor that put you at ease as he respectfully told you what you needed to hear, whether or not you wanted to hear it, and you listened because you knew it was coming from a place of love. His intent was for you to understand, learn, and grow to be the person he knew in his heart that you could become.
Always a sharp dresser, Archie took great pride in his appearance. He was clean, all the time from the top of his head down to his shoes, and he always smelled good; Dad loved his cologne. More importantly than his outward appearance was his personal walk with the LORD. One verse that would define his life is
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Being an avid reader of the word and history, Dad did his best to present himself to God as one approved, a workman who was not ashamed and who correctly handled the word of truth. Bible study is very important, but 2 Timothy 2:15 is not just a command to study the Bible. Being an approved workman involves much more. Paul wants us to understand that to be a workman that God could approve, we need to be diligent in our service to him. Archie (Dad) was our example of this as he constantly served others from pastors to the homeless.
Left to celebrate Archie’s memory is his beloved wife of over 50 years, Dr. Cornelia Mutts; son, Archie L. Mutts Jr. and spouse Tané M. Manning, grandson, Ryan Mutts - Virginia Beach, VA, granddaughter, Rachel Mutts - Norfolk, VA, Michele Scott, Baltimore, Md, granddaughter, Darnell Killen, Virginia Beach, VA, great grandson, Jeremy Majette, great granddaughter, Jordyn Majette, great granddaughter, Alyssa Mutts, and great granddaughter, Kayleigh Killen, along with a host of nieces and nephews.
Dad will be greatly missed but to be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD!
The Family
Dad was so many things to so many people. He was a man who led by example. Kind, gentle, smart, friendly, forgiving, genuinely caring and accepting of others are just a few of the adjectives that have been used to describe him. The loves of his life were The LORD JESUS CHRIST first and foremost and family. As he always said whenever you greeted him “I’m blessed by the best”. His love of family, friends and loved ones set the example for the rest of us of how to love and treat others in our daily lives.
Dad’s best friends and closest confidants were his wife, who he lovingly referred to as “Mommy” and his son who he called “Jr” and #1. He had a unique and special bond with each one of them. Dad selflessly worked to ensure that his wife and his son excelled in their academic pursuits and achieved their professional goals.
Dad was welcoming but very protective of family, which extended beyond bloodlines. Those closest to him earned special nicknames that they all came to cherish such as “his other Number 1” (his grandson Ryan), “Peach” (his granddaughter Rachel) and “My Girl” (his daughter-in-law Tané).
While he was stern when he needed to be, Dad didn’t yell or elevate his voice. He had a very calming demeanor that put you at ease as he respectfully told you what you needed to hear, whether or not you wanted to hear it, and you listened because you knew it was coming from a place of love. His intent was for you to understand, learn, and grow to be the person he knew in his heart that you could become.
Always a sharp dresser, Archie took great pride in his appearance. He was clean, all the time from the top of his head down to his shoes, and he always smelled good; Dad loved his cologne. More importantly than his outward appearance was his personal walk with the LORD. One verse that would define his life is
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Being an avid reader of the word and history, Dad did his best to present himself to God as one approved, a workman who was not ashamed and who correctly handled the word of truth. Bible study is very important, but 2 Timothy 2:15 is not just a command to study the Bible. Being an approved workman involves much more. Paul wants us to understand that to be a workman that God could approve, we need to be diligent in our service to him. Archie (Dad) was our example of this as he constantly served others from pastors to the homeless.
Left to celebrate Archie’s memory is his beloved wife of over 50 years, Dr. Cornelia Mutts; son, Archie L. Mutts Jr. and spouse Tané M. Manning, grandson, Ryan Mutts - Virginia Beach, VA, granddaughter, Rachel Mutts - Norfolk, VA, Michele Scott, Baltimore, Md, granddaughter, Darnell Killen, Virginia Beach, VA, great grandson, Jeremy Majette, great granddaughter, Jordyn Majette, great granddaughter, Alyssa Mutts, and great granddaughter, Kayleigh Killen, along with a host of nieces and nephews.
Dad will be greatly missed but to be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD!
The Family