Jesse Robert Mitchell Sr., age 87, passed from this life on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at his home after a lengthy illness. Visitation with the Mitchell family will be Friday, October 26,2012 from 12:00 to 1:45pm at Gunter Peel Funeral Home. Graveside services at 2:00 PM will be led by Brother Don Cole following the visitation, and burial at Friendship Cemetery will be conducted by Gunter Peel Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be the sons and grandsons. The second son of the late Elza Albert and Jessie Mae Phillips Mitchell, Mr. Mitchell was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, on August 27, 1925. He graduated from Birmingham High School in 1943 and immediately enlisted in the US Army. His World War II military service spanned November 1943 until February 1946 in the European Theater of Operations. After his military service, he met and married the former Helen Dunlap of Eupora, MS. He studied and graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Business Administration, and was employed as an internal auditor for the USAF Audit Agency from 1956 until 1960 at Foster AFB, TX. From 1960 until 1987, Mr. Mitchell served as CAFB Chief Accountant in the Columbus Air Force Base, MS, Accounting and Finance Department and later the Control Section. He retired in 1987 after thirty-two years of Civil Service. Later, he was employed as bookkeeper for Sherwin Williams Decorating Center and Toms Paint and Decorating Center. He loved music, history, working in his yard, and MSU Baseball. Mr. Mitchell was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, two sisters Alene Favarra and Betty Gilow of Memphis, TN, and a brother Lyndol Mitchell of Rochester, NY. Mr. Mitchell is survived by two sons, Dr. Bobby Mitchell (Mary) of Douglasville GA and E. Alan Mitchell of Clearwater, FL; a step-daughter, Dr. Ellie Graham of Columbus, MS; six grandchildren, Todd Graham (Jeannie) of Columbus, MS, Shannon Graham McCain (Billy) of Biloxi, MS, Blake Mitchell of Los Angeles, CA, Ian Robert Mitchell and Jillian Mitchell of Douglasville, GA, Ariel Mitchell Harvey of Clearwater, FL; eight great-grandchildren; Courtney Pridmore of Columbus, MS, Mallory Graham of Enid, OK, Lindsay Maykowski of Biloxi, MS, Malakeigh Harvey and Marley Harvey of Clearwater, Fl, Erica Ryles, Roxanne Ryles and Brooke Ann Duett of Columbus, MS; and two great-great grandchildren, Preston Pridmore and Ruby Lynn Ryles of Columbus, MS. The family wishes to extend special thanks and gratitude to Dr. Doyle Sumrall and his staff, Gentiva Home Healthcare and Gentiva Hospice staff, and caregivers; Angela Clemons, Judy Breaux, Annette Bradley, Minnie Petty, and Paula Harris. Memorials may be made to the National Alzheimers Foundation.
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