Ethel Lee Williams Mitchell was born in Egremont, Mississippi on March 30, 1932, to George Williams and Mary Cannon Williams, also known as Miss Mae.
As a child, she attended the St. Luke Baptist Church and accepted the Lord as her savior at an early age, and was baptized in Deer Creek River.
Mitchell attended Piney Woods Boarding School in Piney Woods, Mississippi for high school and later attended Jackson State College in Jackson, Mississippi.
In her early twenties, she moved to Chicago, Illinois. There she met and married William Mitchell. They had three children, William Maurice, Juliette, and Mary Melanie. They eventually settled in the state of Washington, living first in Richland, then later moving to Seattle. Mitchell returned to college and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.
Mitchell served for some years as the Branch Manager of the East Cherry YWCA and later was an Area Manager for King County Superior Court in the Juvenile Diversion Program where she worked until retirement.
Mitchell was a tireless advocate for justice and equality for Black people. A devout Christian, she was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church for nearly 50 years.
Mitchell was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary, her brothers James, Henry, Percy, Charlie and David, her sister Lula and beloved cousin Bernice.
She is survived by her offspring William (Peggy), Juliette, and Mary Melanie, her granddaughter Jalayne, and many loving family members and friends.
A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at Mt Zion Baptist Church at 11:00 am. Mitchell left instructions for attendees to wear bright colors to the celebration! In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Colin Kaepernick’s foundation, knowyourrightscamp.com
