A sweet young soul with the heart of an angel departed this life on Saturday, June 17, 2023, after a brief illness. Her cousin, Callie Mae Butler, summed up the essence of Shelbi’s all too brief life with these words: “Oh, sweet Shel Belle. How can this be real? I wish I could have traded places with you, baby girl. Thank you for the 10 years we had with you. We will cherish them forever and ever. We were so BLESSED to even know you and even more so to call you our family. You made us so proud. Shelbi Corrine Mitchem absolutely loved her family and people. She was so sweet, polite, so smart, loved school and her friends, so caring, thoughtful, loving, giving, never ever expected a thing from anyone but was so grateful when she received anything. This baby never whined or complained about a thing. At her young age she understood so much. She wanted to be included in everything, she didn’t care what it was, she wanted to be with her people all the time. She loved life every day, she was so curious and took it all in. Being the youngest grand baby, she was our hand-me-down queen and loved clothes. She was all girl and was getting into her hair, nails, and make up era and loved being a part of the “the big girls” and all that we did. She was truly a ray of sunshine. She was her Nana’s world and sidekick, and her mom was her everything. Please pray for our family but especially her mom, dad, Nana, and siblings. We love you so much, Shel Shel.”
Shelbi was born November 6, 2012 and had just completed 3rd grade at Amory Schools. People in Okolona know her as the “Main Street Baby” – everyone who works on Main Street loved her. She and her family were members of the Okolona Presbyterian Church generationally.
Shelbi is survived by her parents, Christopher Mitchem of Hamilton and Corinne Mitchem of Okolona; brothers Dossan Holcomb and Cameron Mitchem; her grandmothers, Dena Word Doss of Okolona and Tonia Elam of Amory, grandfather Woody Mitchem of Amory, and several aunts, uncles and their families; and her best friend, KimberLeigh Garza. She was preceded in death by her grandfather Terry Doss and her paternal grandmother Vickie Murff.
The family has asked that everyone lovingly remember Shelbi as they have a private family memorial service. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to the Okolona Presbyterian Church. Holland Funeral Directors – Okolona Chapel is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.
