Mariel Wayne Mitchell, died Monday, June 23, 2014, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, MS, after a long illness. He was born September 18, 1936 in Itawamba County. He was born and raised in Itawamba County, the oldest of three boys. He graduated from Itawamba Agricultural High School, and Itawamba Community College, attended Freed- Hardeman University, the University of South Alabama, and the University of South Mississippi.
Wayne preached the Gospel for 61 years, serving as a Minister in Florida, Alabama and several locations throughout Mississippi.
Wayne and his family moved to Quitman, MS in 1967 and established the congregation of the Quitman Church of Christ. He also preached countless sermons on local radio stations throughout his career, and on the “Looking to Jesus” TV program on Channel 39 from Fulton, MS. Having recently completed sermons in May on this station.
Wayne always did his best to promote North Mississippi, especially the Belmont area. He was a long time member of the Belmont Promotional Assoc.and served as president until recent months. Wayne has also been involved with the Lion’s Club, Boy Scouts of America and has served as a substitute teacher. He served as emcee at numerous parades and other events, portrayed Santa on several occasions and always used his forum in the Belmont and Tishomingo Journal to promote his pride in his community.
Wayne had many jobs and wore many hats, often at the same time through his life. His main priority was always his service to the church of Christ. He began his preaching career in 1957 at the Kosciusko Church of Christ. Wayne and Catherine took a leap of faith, purchasing The Belmont and Tishomingo Journal from Mr. Delmus Hardin in August of 1976 and continued to report the local news and events for the next thirty-seven years. Wayne’s weekly column changed titles along this time to Publishers Private Musings, but the content remained basically the same – his love of community and his faith. Wayne began his career as a newspaper man in the early 1970’s, working for Publisher and friend Delmus Hardin. Wayne served as Assistant Editor with his wife of 56 years, Catherine. He also served as ad sales manager and wrote his weekly Imagery of Life column. The Mitchell’s added the purchase of “The County Shopper” to their responsibilities in the 1980’s and operated both of these Publications until they sold them in September of 2013. Wayne and Catherine also added a printing business, KeMa Publishing, which they were still operating at the time of Wayne’s death. He worked for the Belmont Police Department, and served as Chaplain and the Tishomingo County Sheriff’s Department, worked at Deaton Funeral Home, and as a DJ and salesman for WRMG radio in Red Bay. Wayne was a fingerprint technician for the FBI in Washington D.C. before beginning his career in the Ministry.
He was appointed by Governor Haley Barbour in January 2011 to serve on the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service as an at-large member, and was honored by being selected as the Secretary/Treasurer for this group. He was reappointed this year and was continuing to serve. The last seventeen years leading up to his retirement were spent a minister of the Mt. Gilead Church of Christ in Itawamba County, the place where he preached his first sermon – in 1952.
He kept the books and tracts of Bro. V.P. Black on Stewardship in print and distributed.
Survivors include his Wife, Catherine Massey Mitchell of Belmont, Son, Billy (Barbara) Mitchell of Vina, AL, Son, Roy (Linda) Mitchell of Hodges, AL, Daughter, Kathy (Michael) Bates of Batesville, Grandsons: Eddie (Missy) Mitchell of Tuscumbia, AL, Dustin (Aronia) Mitchell of Hodges, AL, Kasen Bates of Batesville, Granddaughters: Kellee and Kadyn Bates of Batesville, Great-granddaughters: Abbie and Mikala Mitchell, Great-grandson, Slate Mitchell, Brother, Ralph (Judy) Mitchell of Fulton, Brother, Don (Mitzie) Mitchell of Belmont
He was preceded in death by his parents
Pallbearers will be Roger Crane, Phillip Crane, Olen Lovette, Johnny Jamerson, Jonathan George, and Cody Crane
Honorary Pallbearers are Eddie and Dustin Mitchell, Kasen Bates, Tyler Benson, and the MS State Board of Funeral Service Members
Online condolences can be expressed at www.senterfuneraldirectors.com
