Dorothy Davis Mitchell of Summerville/Gore Community died on April 22, 2008 at home. She was 91.Mrs. Mitchell was born of March 19, 1917 in Langley, SC. In 1989, her husband of 49 years, George William “Bill” Mitchell preceded her in death.
Mrs. Mitchell is survived by her children, William Davis Mitchell of Summerville and his wife Diane, Mary Mitchell Yates of Atlanta and her husband Charlie, four grandchildren, Will & Paul Mitchell, and Charlie & Sarah Yates. She is also survived by her sister, Willie Amerson of Anniston AL, and her sisters-in-law, Ida Mitchell of Summerville, Mildred Padgett of Calhoun, and Dot Davis of Gadsden AL, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Her children remember her as a woman of remarkable energy and determination whose love for them was deep, and whose expectations were high. She found time to help her husband on the farm, particularly in the early years of struggle, while cooking three meals every day while baking delicious cakes and breads and keeping an impeccable clean house. She had zero tolerance for misbehavior, especially if it involved tracking dirt into the house. She found the time and squeezed from a very limited budget, the money for extras like music and dance lessons for her children. Dot loved music and was able to save the money in the budget for an LP record player and soundtracks of all the great broadway musicals of the 50’s and some of her favorite classical recordings.
She sewed her daughters’ clothes, often with patterns she’d make herself. Her daughter remembers one big skirted V-necked dress fondly, and noted that it was made of flora fabric from a feed sack.
Dot grew beautiful flowers, from soft pink peonies to bright zinnias, and her favorite shrub the boxwood by the score. Every year they would plant and tend a large vegetable garden, which led to many hours on the porch snapping beans, shucking corn, shelling peas, and so forth to fill dozens of canning jars and freezer bags. In later years, she branched out to such exotica as an asparagus bed.
Every Sunday found her with her family in their usual pew at Bethal Methodist Church, where she frequently provided the Alter Flowers, taught Sunday School, and helped organize Vacation Bible School and the Women’s Bible Group.
A memorial service will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, April 23th at Bethal United Methodist Church in Gore. The family will receive friends on Thursday, from 6 – 8 PM at the Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in Summerville.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethal United Methodist Church, c/o Carolyn Perry, treasurer – 2124 South Little Sand Mtn. Rd. – Armuchee, GA 30105, or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter – 1925 Century Blvd. Suite 10 – Atlanta GA.
Comments