Willie
Willie Mae Mitchell
d. January 9, 2012
Willie Mae Hopper Mitchell was received by her Lord on Monday, January 9, 2012.
The celebration of her life and home going will be on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at the Forest United Methodist Church in Forest, MS at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11 at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Forest and from 9 until 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, January 12 in the church sanctuary prior to the service. Burial will follow at Eastern Cemetery in Forest.
Willie Mae was born on April 12, 1912 in Dekalb, MS about the time the life of the Titanic began as it set sail. While one life ended shortly in devastation and despair, the other was lived gloriously for her God, her family, her friends, her church and community, and for all who knew her. She moved to Forest at an early age where she lived most of her life. Her life was spent in giving to others all she had to give: her devotion, her warmth, her vibrant personality, her encouragement, her friendship, her talent, and most of all her love. She devoted herself completely to her beloved husband, Chester, and her son, Rhett. Family always came first for Willie Mae.
Her first love after God, family, and her church was the piano, a love that began early in her life. She taught piano in many of the public schools in Scott County for 60 years, most of those years in the Forest school district. She also played both piano and organ at the Forest Methodist Church for many of those years. She gave recitals to packed auditoriums for both her 85th and 90th birthdays. Those were her gifts to others while she received the great gift of outpoured love from those attending.
Her life was spent in giving. She was involved in many facets of service to her community and her state. She served as both local and state president of three different organizations. Her most devoted time was in her lifelong involvement with the PTA, during which time she served as state president for 2 years and a member of the national board of directors. She was honored after so many years of service with an award given each year named for her. She also served as president of both the Business and Professional Women’s Club and the teacher sorority, Kappa Kappa Iota. She was also a member of The Daughters of the American Revolution.
Although she taught piano to help support her family, she would have very happily done it for free. She loved every single child she ever taught and most adored her in return. She was very stern with them, however, and shared with them her belief in a disciplined life and a life of service to others.
Grateful thanks is given to those who gave her such tender care during the past several months of her life: Dr. William Lewis, the staff of Southern Care hospice service, and most especially Carrie Rogers, whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Chester, her parents, Willie Leon and Mabel McKenzie Hopper, her precious daughter in law, Pat, two sisters, Serena McGee and Lolita Harrison, and two brothers, Willie Leon, Jr. and Jack Hopper.
She is survived by her son, Rhett, two grandsons, Joe and Stan Mitchell, foster granddaughter, Patricia Ruggieri, 6 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson plus several nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.
Memorials may be made to Forest United Methodist Church, Box 68, Forest, MS 39074.
The celebration of her life and home going will be on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at the Forest United Methodist Church in Forest, MS at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11 at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Forest and from 9 until 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, January 12 in the church sanctuary prior to the service. Burial will follow at Eastern Cemetery in Forest.
Willie Mae was born on April 12, 1912 in Dekalb, MS about the time the life of the Titanic began as it set sail. While one life ended shortly in devastation and despair, the other was lived gloriously for her God, her family, her friends, her church and community, and for all who knew her. She moved to Forest at an early age where she lived most of her life. Her life was spent in giving to others all she had to give: her devotion, her warmth, her vibrant personality, her encouragement, her friendship, her talent, and most of all her love. She devoted herself completely to her beloved husband, Chester, and her son, Rhett. Family always came first for Willie Mae.
Her first love after God, family, and her church was the piano, a love that began early in her life. She taught piano in many of the public schools in Scott County for 60 years, most of those years in the Forest school district. She also played both piano and organ at the Forest Methodist Church for many of those years. She gave recitals to packed auditoriums for both her 85th and 90th birthdays. Those were her gifts to others while she received the great gift of outpoured love from those attending.
Her life was spent in giving. She was involved in many facets of service to her community and her state. She served as both local and state president of three different organizations. Her most devoted time was in her lifelong involvement with the PTA, during which time she served as state president for 2 years and a member of the national board of directors. She was honored after so many years of service with an award given each year named for her. She also served as president of both the Business and Professional Women’s Club and the teacher sorority, Kappa Kappa Iota. She was also a member of The Daughters of the American Revolution.
Although she taught piano to help support her family, she would have very happily done it for free. She loved every single child she ever taught and most adored her in return. She was very stern with them, however, and shared with them her belief in a disciplined life and a life of service to others.
Grateful thanks is given to those who gave her such tender care during the past several months of her life: Dr. William Lewis, the staff of Southern Care hospice service, and most especially Carrie Rogers, whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Chester, her parents, Willie Leon and Mabel McKenzie Hopper, her precious daughter in law, Pat, two sisters, Serena McGee and Lolita Harrison, and two brothers, Willie Leon, Jr. and Jack Hopper.
She is survived by her son, Rhett, two grandsons, Joe and Stan Mitchell, foster granddaughter, Patricia Ruggieri, 6 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson plus several nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.
Memorials may be made to Forest United Methodist Church, Box 68, Forest, MS 39074.
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