John Leo Mitchell

Rev. John L. Mitchell was born October 13, 1944 in Keystone, Arkansas and grew up in Camden. In 1965, he moved to Columbus, Ohio, and shortly thereafter, was inducted into active duty with the United States Marine Corps. He was honorably discharged the following year. During his brief period of military service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the M-14 Rifle Sharpshooter Badge. He enjoyed spending quality time with his loved ones; family gatherings were always filled with laughter, singing and storytelling. A man of great faith, Rev. Mitchell believed that God could do the impossible. He was a member of Zion Baptist Church in Beaver, Ohio, under the leadership of Pastor Keith Jackson. On March 26, 2015, Rev. John L. Mitchell was called home to be with the Lord while at The Ohio State University Medical Center’s East Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Legertha Mitchell, parents, John and Icelee Mitchell, sisters, Queen Esther Mitchell, Murvine Nelson, and Francis Walker, and brother Thomas Mitchell. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Regina Mitchell; four daughters, Rita (Jake) Holloway, Paulette Mitchell, Alice (Shane) Riggins, and Hollie Mitchell, all of Columbus, Ohio; sisters, Christine (David) Rucks of Menlo Park, California, Venester Ferguson of San Francisco, California, Trudell Dilworth of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Myrtle Hamilton of Grand Rapids, Michigan; brother Lewis Mitchell of Ft. Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Jacob, Patricia, Markus, Joshua, Keiairra, Amari, Ayannah, Anisa, Anaya, Zaire, Zy’Shonne and Sierra; great grandchildren, Quincy and Xavier, all of Columbus, Ohio; and a host of other relatives and friends.