Joseph Hirem Mitchell

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Jan. 23, 1943 – Sept. 4, 2016

BENOIT— A celebration of life service for Joseph Hirem Mitchell, 73, of Benoit, who died Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at his residence, will be 2 p.m. today at Benoit Union Church with the Rev. Scott Lenoir officiating.

Burial will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Jersey Settlers Cemetery in Natchez under the direction of Ray Funeral Home in Cleveland.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time today at the church.

Mr. Mitchell was born Jan. 23, 1943, in Duncan, the son of Robert Earl Mitchell and Ruby Mozell Meredith Mitchell.

He was a graduate of Shelby High School and continued his education at Delta State University where he graduated with a degree in education. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army.

Mr. Mitchell married Martha Clyde Coleman April 24, 1965, in Greenwood. He worked for 40 years as director in children’s homes like Palmer Home for Children, Crossnore School in North Carolina and Natchez Children’s Home.

Mr. Mitchell ministered to others in a number of ways whether it was through his skilled piano playing which he often shared at the nursing home and at church, his mission trips to Peru and Cuba and helping with the Cusco, Peru orphanage.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and one sister, Lillian Bradley.

Survivors include two sons, Richard Earl Mitchell of Plantation, Fla., and Joseph Paul Mitchell of Meridian; one brother, Robert G, Mitchell of Cleveland; three sisters, Frances Aiken of Cleveland, Sue Parham of Birmingham, Ala., and Dottie Reed and husband, Joe Wayne, of Boyle; two brothers-in-law, Scott Lenoir and wife, Harriett, of Gautier and Al Coleman and wife, Margaret, of Richmond, Va.; and a number of beloved nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Larry Buckley, Steven Eames, Frank Heard, Jonathan Hungford, Geoff Iles and Chip Sturdivant.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Benoit Union Church with checks designated for The Joe Mitchell Missions Fund, P.O. Box 21, Benoit, MS 38725.

Online condolences may be sent to rayfuneralhome.net.