Josephine Lucile Leatherwood Mitchell, 103, of Falkville, Alabama passed away peacefully at Decatur Morgan Hospital on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Josephine was predeceased by her parents: Julian and Effie Leatherwood, Siblings: Mildred Davidson, JW Leatherwood, Otis Leatherwood, Orby Leatherwood, Sam Leatherwood, and Billy Leatherwood, and Children: Mickey Leatherwood and Dale Starrett. She is survived by her daughters, Patsy Hughes and Kathy Russell; her grandchildren Glenda Eason, Charles Edward White, Wendy Holbrooks, and Frederick Sutton; Great Grandchildren, Joshua, Samuel, Elliot, Hunter, Hannah, Gavin, Hannah, and Frances Josephine and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Her family recalls the way she spoke so fondly of her parents, how her words were so full of honor for them, which they also believe directly explains much of the reason for her many years of life. It was easily explained by lining it up with the scripture in Ephesians Chapter 6 verses 2 and 3 that say, “Honour they father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth.” It was a life very well lived and very well loved. As a young woman during the time of World War 2, she worked in a factory that made parachutes for U.S. Military use and she was one of the first women of her time to join the Worker’s Union. She saw many changes within our world in the time she spent here and her stories were absolutely amazing to sit and listen to. To those of her family that knew her best, that she allowed herself the liberty around, it can be said that she was often heard singing some of the best old Church hymns within her daily tasks that reflected her faith in Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior. It was also well known to many that one of her favorite things to do was give of herself almost entirely to the raising of children, of her own, of her grandchildren, of her great grandchildren as much as possible, and of others too that she wasn’t even related to. Each and every child that she sowed into was enriched by the love in which she gave and by the high value she made obvious that she had for them. To her own, it has become the richest of legacies to say that they have had the privilege of knowing such pure devotion and that they can pass the same to every future generation of her family.
A visitation for Josephine will be held Saturday, December 31, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Roselawn Funeral Home, A celebration of life service will be Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 2PM at Roselawn Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery.
