JERRY E. MITCHELL
June 22, 1952-May 12, 2014
The Rev. Jerry Elmore Mitchell, 61, Goldsboro, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, passed peacefully into that far better life with his Lord and savior and with those beloved family who went on before. Jerry's courage during this fight was typical of his strength of character, reflecting his loyalty and dedication to his Lord and his deep love for his family and his zest and love of life.
Jerry was born June 22, 1952, in Wayne County to Grover Mitchell of Goldsboro and the late Lois Pittman Mitchell.
Jerry attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and graduated from North Carolina Wesleyan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.
Jerry enjoyed a career of almost 30 years with Southco Distributing before retiring to enter full-time ministry. Jerry then set his heart on serving God and his people as a United Methodist minister.
He obtained a Course of Study from Duke Divinity School in 2003.
Jerry served as minister for two churches in Duplin County before becoming pastor of
Garris Chapel United Methodist Church in 1998. He continued to faithfully serve the congregation until his death.
Jerry lived a life of dedication to his family and friends and to his community. In addition to his love for pastoral ministry, Jerry also had a heart for ministry in the area of death and dying.
He served his community many ways from serving as chaplain at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, a division of Home Health and Hospice, to ministering as a grief counselor and aftercare specialist at Rouse Funeral Home in LaGrange. He also facilitated a monthly grief support group that was sponsored by Rouse Funeral Home and Garris Chapel United Methodist Church.
We were blessed by the love of a truly honorable, compassionate and humble man, who touched the lives of many people. Jerry loved people, and his job afforded him the opportunity to meet and touch many lives.
He was also a man who enjoyed fishing and golfing with his friends, but most important to Jerry was his family. Jerry worked so hard to make sure his wife and children were well taken care of. He was the best daddy and papa. One who will be truly missed.
He was larger than life, and every life he touched, he changed. Jerry would want everyone to remember him by what he would always say before he ended a conversation, "It is all about Him."
A service to honor and celebrate Jerry's life will be held Thursday, May 15, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Garris Chapel United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
In addition to his father, Jerry is survived by his wife of almost 44 years, Diane Vinson Mitchell; two sons, Brad Mitchell and wife, Wendy, and Gabe Mitchell and wife, Donna; three granddaughters, Maia Mitchell, Kelli Mitchell and Sally Ann Mitchell; two brothers, Ronnie Mitchell and wife, Carolyn, and Don Mitchell and wife, Lori; his ma-in-law, Norma Ann Vinson; sisters and brother-in-law, Debbie Capps and David and Cindy Vinson; along with a number of special nieces and nephews.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Craig Capps.
We would like to give a very special thank you to the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff at Kitty Askins Hospice Center, Southeastern Oncology, especially Dr. I-Wen Chang and her nursing staff, along with the fourth floor at Wayne Memorial Hospital for the love and care they provided to Jerry during his fight for life. Simple words cannot express our gratitude.
Also, we would like to thank the many friends and the Garris Chapel family, who shared their love and prayers for Jerry over these past years.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Garris Chapel United Methodist Church, and at other times, it will be at the home.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.rousefh.com.
Memorials may be made to Garris Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 823 Piney Grove Road, LaGrange, N.C., 28551; Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534; or Southeastern Cancer Care Cures For The Colors, 203 Cox Boulevard, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
Arrangements are with Rouse Funeral Home of LaGrange.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on May 14, 2014 1:50 PM