Calvin Mitchell

Calvin Rudolph Mitchell departed this world to go to his heavenly home Friday, May 27, 2022.

He was born Oct. 12, 1929, in Jackson. His mother was the late Erma Mitchell Siebert.

He graduated from an all-Black John S. Cobb School in Cape Girardeau in 1948 and went on to attend Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.

He married his high school sweetheart, Denza Zenobia Jones, and remained married for 62 years until her death Jan. 25, 2015.

During the early '50s, Calvin was drafted into the U.S. Army. After serving his country, he supported his family by securing employment at the Southeast Missourian from 1955 to 1997. Calvin was blessed to work 42 years with the company. He also worked at the Cape Girardeau Public Library for 35 years and held positions with Farm & Home Savings Association, Frozen Food Locker and Shakey's Pizza.

He was kind, humble, loving and a very devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He always had such a caring spirit for others and made a significant impact in many individual lives. Calvin made a commitment to attend and helped in his children's school, church, community, career events and activities.

Service to God

Calvin was a lifelong member of St. James AME Church. He served as a trustee, usher, Men's Day chairperson, Men's Chorus member and assisted with the coordination of banquets, anniversary celebrations, Easter fashion shows, backyard socials and other fund raisers for the church. He was a member of the Floral Club, Golden Age Club and the Here I Am Club. Calvin also opened his home to allow church services to be held in his basement and provided meals to many college students, along with parental guidance.

He also attended Lighthouse United Church and was appointed honorary deacon.

In his spare time, he enjoyed landscaping his yard and whitewashing his trees and flower bed rocks with his wife. At Christmas each year, he would create a gingerbread house scene and decorate his yard with lights. He loved the outside and enjoyed listening to gospel music.

Throughout his life he was blessed to travel to many areas within the United States with his beloved family. One of his greatest blessings in life, by the grace of the Lord was to be a 25-year Cancer Survivor.

Service to Family

Calvin taught his children to have a strong work ethic and to maintain a job and instilled in them to love everyone and to treat People like you would want to be treated. He always conveyed to them that you are not better than anyone, and no one is better than you. Calvin took great care of his family by working a multitude of jobs throughout his life. Each Sunday he took his children to church and encouraged them to become involved in various church and community events. He also taught them how to landscape, paint and maintain a quality home.

He was blessed to be honored in the following capacities:

Recipient of the Dr. C. John Ritter Humanitarian Service Award; Oldest member of St. James AME Church; Lifelong Service Award for contributions to St. James AME Church; Honorary deacon appointment, Lighthouse United Church; Cape Girardeau Public library honored him for 35 years of service (1963-1998) by planting a tree in front of the library along with a beautiful concrete marker; Honored as a trustee emeritus for St. James AME Church; 2022 Honoree for the Missouri Conference Women's Missionary Society Legacy Luncheon.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Erma Siebert; wife, Denza Mitchell; son, Reginald Mitchell; sister, Virginia Johnson.

Survivors include a son, Kevin Mitchell, and three daughters, Debra Mitchell-Braxton, Karen Smith and Denise Mitchell, all of Cape Girardeau; grandchildren, Randy (Amanda) Smith of Cypress, Texas; Sean Braxton and Ashley (Danny) Braxton of Cape Girardeau; Frankie Braxton of Columbia, Maryland; and Ann (Darryl) Parker of Silver Springs, Maryland; brother, Brian (Phyllis) Siebert of Kokomo, Indiana; great-grandchildren, Calvin, Ariana, Naomi, Miller, Braxton, Adin, Delylah and Alex; and a host of cousins and friends.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at St. James AME Church, 516 North St., in Cape Girardeau.

Celebration of life service will follow at noon Friday at the church. Interment will be at Fairmount Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral services will be livestreamed at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83676132834?pwd=akovYzhGeDdnSDRKV0NGc1k2SmVmdz09; meeting ID: 836 7613 2834; passcode: 688600.

Calvin's family is requesting attendees wear bright color symbolizing a garden of flowers.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. James AME Church, P.O. Box 301, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.