Marsha Ann Mitchell

Marsha Ann (Williams) Mitchell, 81 years old, born September 25, 1943, in Sikeston, Missouri,
passed away after a 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s. Marsha went to be with her Lord and
Savior in Heaven December 27 th in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Marsha was preceded in death by
her parents, Marshall D. Williams and Martha Ann Williams and of Troy, Tennessee, as well as
her mother and father in-law LC and Maurine Mitchell of Springville, Tennessee. Marsha is
survived by her loving husband of 62 years, David Lynn Mitchell Sr., her three siblings James
Williams (Rita), Donna Wescott (Bill, deceased), Scott Williams (Aline), and her brother-in-law
and sister-in-law Earl G. Mitchell and Marsha J. Mitchell. She is also survived by her children,
David L. Mitchell Jr. (Diana), Lei A. (Mitchell) Raines (Nathan), George D. Lopez (Daysi), and
Jason Pacheco (Kylie). Marsha fully and wholeheartedly doted on her 11 grandchildren: Magen
(Johnson) Grugel, Cameron Johnson, David Mitchell III, Andrew Mitchell, Nancy (Mitchell)
Esh, Lian Pacheco, Natan Pacheco, Natalei (Raines) Dakoske, Chloe Pacheco, Colton Pacheco
and Emy de Mimi. Marsha worked diligently to spoil her nine great grandchildren, her 14 nieces
and nephews, and all her great nieces and nephews.
Marsha spent her childhood living in several Northwest Tennessee communities. She did,
however, find great joy in sharing that she was from the Cloverdale, Rives and Obion
communities in Obion County, Tennessee. She graduated from Ripley High School in Ripley,
Tennessee in 1961. Marsha attended Fall’s Business College in Nashville and graduated in 1962.
Marsha and David married in Elkton, Kentucky on July 8 th , 1962. In 1972 David answered God’s
call to full time ministry. Marsha and David moved the family to Southeastern Kentucky to
attend Bible college (where Marsha also attended, earning college credit). During David’s first
full time pastorship, David’s hearing began to decline rapidly, and eventually lost all of his
hearing. Marsha, David, and the children found a “lifeline” in Eastern Tennessee. There, the
family learned sign language and focused on acclimation into Deaf culture. In 1985 Marsha and
David answered God’s call to work with the Deaf people in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands,
where they remained for more than 32 years. Marsha was a faithful and devoted servant to the
Lord. Her determination and grit never wavered, whether she was focused on raising her
children, writing lesson plans and curricula for the Deaf people, or as the ministry’s
Accountant/Manager/Director. Marsha would often be found at the office late into the night, as
she tirelessly pressed onward making sure the ministry was on track, functioning and purpose
driven. She had a strong and fervent yearning to serve the Lord in whatever capacity the Lord
asked of her. Marsha was gifted with playing the piano, loved Southern gospel music, and
always looked for ways to help others and connect with everyone. She made it a priority to help
others feel loved and important. Reaching the Deaf people for Christ was an absolute must for
Marsha and David. However, due Marsha’s Alzheimer’s advancing, in 2016 Marsha and David
retired from the mission field and moved to Southeast Tennessee to be with/near family. Neither
Marsha nor David ever wanted to leave the mission field. They preferred to live out their
remaining years on the mission field until the Lord called them home. Alzheimer’s disease chose
differently.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider one of the organizations below.

Deaf Christian Evangelistic Association (DCEA), Formerly Puerto Rico Deaf Ministries, is
serving the Deaf people in Puerto Rico and Nigeria. Job Ayantola is the DCEA President. You
can send a check payable to Deaf Christian Evg. Assoc., or donate online:
Job Ayantola (DCEA)
25 Svenson RD
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
www.ceaforchrist.org
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (highest GuideStar rating of Platinum) They are funding prevention
and cure research.
https://curealz.org/giving/donate/
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund
34 Washington St., Suite 230
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481

Funeral Services for Marsha will be held Friday January 3rd at 2 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Greenfield, TN. Burial to follow in Highland Cemetery in Greenfield. Visitation will begin Friday at 12 noon and go until time of his service at the funeral home.