Obituary of Charles Eugene Mitchell

Charles E. Mitchell was a well-known and highly recognized member of the Dallas Religious Music Community. Frequently, his musical talents as an organist, song-writer/arranger and choir director were utilized locally, throughout Texas, and nationally.
A native of Dallas, Charles was the first of two children born to the late Rev. John Samuel Mitchell and the late Jerlean Griffin-Mitchell (deceased). His childhood years were spent in the Booker T Addition of old North Dallas. He was educated in the Dallas Independent School System (DISD) and graduated as valedictorian of the Booker T. Washington High School Class of 1968. The recipient of several academic scholarships, he continued his education at Southern Methodist University (SMU) earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Law (Government and History double major) and a Secondary Education Teaching Certificate in three years. Later, he returned to SMU and earned a Masters of Business Administration degree (Marketing and Human Resource Management concentrations). Several lifelong friendships were developed in those SMU years.
Charles united with and was baptized at the Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Rev. Isaac Green, Pastor) at the young age of six (6). It was there that he sang with the Children's Choir, graduated to the Teen Choir and was a youth usher when not singing. While he evolved as a lead/solo singer with the youth and teen choirs, his early passion was for the piano and organ. He received private piano and organ lessons from Ms. Lanita Hodge, longtime musician at New Hope Baptist Church.
Charles also received music education in elementary school, first in grades 1 - 3, from Mrs. Valley Jo Estell, longtime DISD Music Educator and longtime/former musician at the St. John Missionary Baptist Church. His music development was further enhanced by the study of music theory/composition and five years of Marching, Concert and Jazz Band experience (percussionist/pianist) at B. T. Washington High, under the tutelage of James Gray, Band Director and subsequent Principal of B. T. Washington Magnet High School of the Performing and Audio Arts.
Charles' professional religious music career began as musician for Sunday School and Baptist Training Union at the Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Rev. J. W. Washington, Pastor). At age 14, he was offered the position of organist at the St. Luke Baptist Church (Rev. Hubert Harris, Pastor). It was then that he met the love of his life, Miss Linda Joyce Lee, the church pianist (who became his wife some 13 years later).
Charles continued as musician at St. Luke Baptist Church throughout high school and college. He was later ordained as a Deacon at St. Luke. During his tenure there, Charles, along with Cecelia Thomas Hill and Linda Lee, organized the North Park Community Singers. This august body performed extensively locally, throughout Texas and ventured to New York, Los Angeles and to several major cities in between.
Charles and his family united with the Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church (Rev. Cecil Smith, Pastor) in 1980 and subsequently became Minister of Music (a position he held for several years) and Deacon.
He retired from the Mt. Pisgah Music Ministry in 2018. Additionally, Charles traveled extensively with his wife and the Mt. Pisgah Choir in concert appearances in several major U. S. cities, including Washington D.C., Denver, Little Rock, Atlanta, Orlando, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Nashville, No. Carolina, New York, Huntsville, Birmingham, Mobile, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Nassau Bahamas.
During his tenure at Mt. Pisgah, Mr. Mitchell emerged as an extraordinary song writer/arranger. His published works include Si' Down Servant, God Is A Good God, Home, Proverbs 3:5-6 (Trust in the Lord), Psalms 133: 1 (Brethren in Unity), Sing, O Sing Unto the Lord, Hallelujah - Amen, Think; and hymn arrangements of Just As I Am, I Do, Don't You, Abide with Me and others. Several of his works have been recorded and/or performed by such auspicious groups as The Turtle Creek Chorale, the Male Chorus of the Hamilton Park Missionary Baptist Church, the Women's Chorus of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc. (GMWA) and the Texas Mass Choir of GMWA.
Over the years, Mr. Mitchell teamed with many music giants - Rev. James Cleveland, Shirley Caesar, Donald Vails, Willis Barnett, Kathy Taylor, Chester Baldwin, Roland Carter, Shirley Berkeley, Ricky Womack, and Margaret Douroux to name a few.
Outside of the church, Mr. Mitchell was employed by Southwestern Bell, American Airlines, and MetroCare Services where he worked at several managerial levels. He was also a fierce card player and PacMan champion!
Charles was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest daughter Traci. He leaves to cherish his precious memories, his wife Linda Joyce Lee Mitchell; son Keith Mitchell; daughter Melody Nicole Mitchell Frazier; seven grandsons Nicolas, Jakob, Kason, Nilon, Koren, Kylin and David Jr.; one granddaughter Kelani Green; sister Margie Mitchell-Smith; niece Kamesha Smith; nephews Kevin & Kelton Smith; Aunts Vernita Evans and Loraine Grover; cousins JoAnn Evans and Steven Grover; Godchildren Edgar Clardy, Couvosier Allison, Kim Lee, Krista Lee, Warren Lee III, Warren Charles, Kristopher Gulley, Christina Taylor, Michael Johnson, Jillian & Jaden Carraway, Amayia & Dashya McCuin and Sherrie Billops. Others include special daughters Leslie McCuin, Kendra Manny, Lisa Thomas, Yolanda Hargrove, Jackie Law, Sonja Ransom and Stacia Woodberry, as well as other family members and friends.
Anyone who ever met Brother Mitchell knows he freely shared his God-given musical gifts and should have no doubt that his talents are being put to use with God’s heavenly chorus. Believe in your heart there’s an organ up there, probably with innumerable perfectly pitched pipes, just for Charles. And, that’s where this servant of God has earned the right to “Si’ Down”. #forever29