Obituary of Deacon William McKinley Mitchell

Deacon William “Billy”  McKinley Mitchell , 96, left this earthly home to be

with his Lord, on February 11, 2024.

  Deacon Mitchell was born June 20, 1927 in Aiken, South Carolina. He was

the oldest child of the  late Johnnie M. Mitchell and the late Ethel Lucinda

Lee Mitchell.  Shortly after the Deacon’s birth, the family moved to New York

 where his brother, John Lee Mitchell (deceased); sister, Helen Mitchell

Woodard (deceased); and sisters Juanita Mitchell, 94, and Marion Mitchell

Butler, 87 were born.

Deacon Mitchell was a product of the New York City school system.  He

attended PS 14 in Corona Heights and graduated from Newtown High

School in 1947.

After high school, Deacon Mitchell entered the US Marine Corps. Upon

completion of his military duty, he studied Drafting and Architecture.  He

worked alongside his father at Sperry (Gyroscope) in New Hyde Park, New

York as an Inspector and he was employed at New York City Bridge and

Tunnel Authority until his retirement. While at the New York

City Bridge and Tunnel Authority he represented the City of New York

as an Inspector in China, Japan, India and Dubai.

On Deacon Mitchell’s  26^th birthday, June 20,1953, he married Frances

Ophelia Shelton Mitchell.  From this union came one son, La Mont Joseph

Mitchell (Emogene-deceased).  Frances and Deacon Mitchell enjoyed many

years of marital bliss until her passing in 2002.

After his retirement he enjoyed a career as a realtor and notary. His most

successful endeavor was as a faithful member and willing worker at First

Baptist Church in East, Elmhurst, New York.  Deacon Mitchell received

Christ as his savior at a very young age, and his affiliation with his church

family was the highlight of his life.  He served continuously under the

ministries of Rev. William E. Gardner, Rev. Theodore R. Lee, Rev. Brookward

Bush ,and finally Rev. Patrick Young.  His devoted service was untiring.  He

attended all church activities, served on the Deacon Board for over 35

years, and opened the doors of the church in preparation  for service each

and every Sunday until he moved away from New York.   Deacon Mitchell

loved First Baptist Church and its congregants .

He traveled with the Church Scholarship Committee to Egypt, and in

2001 he traveled  with church members, his wife and mother to

 Ghana, Africa .   While there they were able to connect with the original

African tribe from which his mother descended.

Deacon Mitchell’s Lay Ministry was to visit the Sick and Shut In.   He

faithfully visited sick and senior congregants in nursing homes, hospitals

and in their homes (some of the people he visited where younger than he

was.). He transported people to doctor’s appointments and community

events.  Deacon Mitchell always offered support to people who needed it.

 He loved the outdoors and was especially fond of hunting and fishing. 

When you couldn’t find the Deacon or reach him on the phone he could be

anywhere from Alaska to North Carolina on a fishing expedition with his

friends, Nat and Esther Thompson and Lucy Burton. On several occasions

he traveled to Montana to hunt for elk and deer.

Deacon Mitchell and his late wife Frances both came from large families

that expanded beyond anything that you could have predicted. He was

beloved and enjoyed by his family, a constant favorite who encouraged the

young people and made each and every one of them feel uniquely special in

his eyes.

Deacon Mitchell  had 32 nieces and nephews, 71 great nieces and nephews,

89 great-great nieces and nephews and 16 great-great-great nieces and

nephews to honor his legacy. We were extremely blessed to have this

Christian  gentleman in our family and as our example.

He was pre-deceased by his wife, Frances Ophelia Shelton Mitchell; his

 parents, Johnnie and Ethel Lucinda Lee Mitchell; his brother John Lee

 Mitchell ( Margaret-deceased); and sister, Helen Mitchell Woodard.

He leaves his son, La Mont  Joseph Mitchell (Emogene-deceased); his

Grandson, Kenneth Lamont Mitchell; sisters Juanita Mitchell and Marion

 Mitchell Butler as well as a host of family, friends and neighbors to cherish

his memory.

Deacon Billy Mitchell was a” breath of fresh air “, “a force of nature,” and

a tasteful dresser with an infectious smile who gave the best hugs. This

 Deacon, husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle was our

family treasure. He was the best of us, and we are better because of him.

He will be eternally loved and sorely missed.

Lovingly Submitted, 

The Family