Obituary of John Will Mitchell

John Will Mitchell was born on September 15, 1934, to Mose and Sophia Mitchell in Brandon, Mississippi. John was the oldest of thirteen children, and at a very young age he developed a strong work ethic. At the age of 16 he joined the Marine Corps where he served a full term and then transferred to the Air Force. John moved to San Francisco in 1961. In 1963 he met Bessie Coleman and her two children from a previous marriage, Addrell and Wanda Coleman. John and Bessie later married and from this union another wonderful child was born in 1968, Diedre Mitchell. John worked at the University of California Medical Center from 1961 to early 1975. In 1975 he accepted a job with the National Park Service as a heavy equipment operator. He also worked a second job at the San Francisco School District as a custodial engineer. At the age of 47 he retired from both jobs because of serious health problems including diabetes. After his retirement he built his dream home in Dunnigan, California and enjoyed a quiet life. After the loss of his wife in 2003, John moved back to Mississippi where he had another house built. However, in less than three years John's health began to fail and he had to move back to California. Diedre Mitchell-Jackson was his primary care provider while Addrell Coleman and Wanda Boult helped periodically by taking him to his various doctor appointments. By October 2011 John had become a double amputee with the loss of both his legs. John maintained a positive attitude as he endured physical therapy. However, he continued to have additional health problems. John fought a good fight and on December 15, 2011, God with His tender mercy embraced John in His loving arms and carried him home. John was preceded in death by his father and mother, his brothers Leonard Mitchell and Charles Mitchell, and his sister Mary Mitchell. He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter Diedre and her husband Paul Jackson of Discovery Bay, California; son Addrell Coleman and daughter Wanda Coleman-Boult, both of Sacramento, California; brothers James Mitchell, Moses Mitchell, Otis Mitchell, Wayne Mitchell and Robert Mitchell, and his sisters Bertha Mitchell, Cara McClaran and Jeanette Lewis; his favorite Aunt Mini; his grandchildren Lamar Boult, Monique Seymore, Kieona Coleman, Dominique Jackson, Addrell Coleman Jr., Krstyal Jackson, Jazmin Boult, Marlaysia Coleman, LaShaun Jackson and Kevin Boult; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. A Celebration of his life will be held in his hometowm of Brandon Mississippi, and in Sacramento, California. Services in Sacramento will be held Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 11:00am at Sacramento Memorial Lawn, with viewing at 10:00am.