TUPELO — Funeral services for Sara Frances Mitchell, 94, of Tupelo, who died Friday, Jan. 23, 2009, at her residence following an extended illness, will be 1 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in Tupelo with the Revs. Andy Ray, Jimmy Criddle and Raigan Miskelly officiating.

Burial will follow at the Verona Cemetery under the direction of W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors.

Visitation will be from noon until time of services Monday in the gathering room of the church.

Ms. Mitchell was born March 2, 1914 in Tupleo, the daughter of Guy Mitchell Sr. and Rosa Rogers Mitchell. She graduated from Tupelo High School in 1932, and then went to Mississippi State College for Women, where she graduated in 1936 with a degree in elementary education. She pursued graduate work at Columbia University in New York and the University of Virginia. Her 50-plus year teaching career included schools in Amory, Corinth, Clarksdale, Tupelo and Natchez.

While living in Natchez she taught and served as principal of both the Natchez-Adams County Schools and the Adams County Christian School. At her retirement, the Adams County Christian School honored her for her distinguished career in education by naming the school library the “Sara Frances Mitchell Library.”

She was an advocate for the education of young children and a champion of pre-school education. Her students and colleagues will remember her as a dedicated educator. She avidly followed the careers of her former students and was always proud of their achievements. She enjoyed traveling extensively and was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Tupelo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Lorinne Cunningham and one brother, Guy Mitchell Jr.

Survivors include three nieces, Rose Cunningham Trigg and husband, Jerry, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Nina Cunningham Redding and husband, Ed, of Jackson and Sarah Cunningham Gay of Tucson, Ariz.; one nephew, Guy Mitchell III and wife, Susan, of Tupelo; nine great-nieces and nephews; 18 great-great-nieces and nephews; the David Deterly family of Arlington, Texas; many loyal friends and neighbors and her caregivers.

Pallbearers will be Britt Rogers, Jamison Rogers, Merrill Johnston, Dr. John Kenny, B.B. Hosch, Dr. Mitch Massey, Bruce Smith, Henry Dodge and E.L. “Ernie” Joyner III.

Memorials may be made to the Sara Frances Mitchell Education Endowment Fund, care of Create, P.O. Box 1053 Tupelo Ms, 38802, or a favorite charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.peaguesfuneralhome.com.