James Mitchell was met at Heaven’s Gate by an entourage of family, and dear friends on Oct. 28, 2023. He was born on July 31, 1943, in Praco, Alabama, to the late John Brady and Mary (Williams) Mitchell.

Mitch graduated from Carver High School in Bessemer, Ala. He served in the U. S Army for three years in Korea and Viet Nam. After moving to Akron, he worked on the Goodyear Police Department for 35 years, retiring in 2004. Mitchell completed the Ohio Law Enforcement Officer Training at the Summit County Sheriff’s Academy in l982 and served as a Special Deputy for 20 years.

He was well known for “Mitchell’s Lawn Service’ for many years. Mitch was the Assistant Chairman to Ophelia Averitte for the NAACP National Life Membership Committee, where he was a life member. He was dedicated to this task and usually had more new memberships than anyone else at the monthly meetings. Mitchell was a true “people person” and never met a stranger; his conversations and joking manner made him unforgettable to many.

Mitch is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Princess (Long); sons, James (Catie Lee) Mitchell III, and Darrell Pettis; daughters, Junnecia Williams Spates, Kenna Grace and Carmelita Sanders; brother, Milton (Mary Ann) Mitchell; sister, Vivian Diane (Michael) Diggins; son-in-law, David Grace; grandchildren, Jasmin Mitchell, Kaden ‘Williams, Ramaan and Jalen (Diana)Grace; great-grandchildren, Tyler and Prince Grace. Special cousin, Nathaniel (Hank) Williams and a host of other relatives and friends.