Thursday, February 01, 2007
Mitchie's Gallery will never be what it was intended to be: Mitchie's.
Fred "Mitchie" Leon Mitchell III, 21, died Sunday after a battle with health issues, most of which stemmed from a car wreck at a young age.
Bret Gerbe
FOR AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
"Mitchie" Mitchell's mother, Joyce Adejumo, got involved in MADD after her son was in a serious accident at age 3. Mitchell's father, Adejumo's ex-husband, was driving DRUNK.
"I made this gallery for Mitchie, so he could have something to fall back on later in life," said Joyce Adejumo, Mitchie's mother, of her African American art gallery and framing store.
Mitchie was severely injured in a drunken driving accident in Williamson County in 1989 when he was just 3 years old. The driver was his father, Fred Mitchell, who spent several years in prison after the wreck.
Mitchie's back was broken, leaving him unable to walk. A string of illnesses followed Mitchie for the remainder of his life.
Almost immediately after the crash, Adejumo became involved with MADD.
Adejumo had divorced Mitchie's father just three months prior to the wreck, saying it was because of his alcoholism.
In his short life, Mitchie underwent more than 100 operations and spent more than 1,000 days in the hospital, but Karen Housewright, the state director of MADD, said Mitchie was determined to make something good out of what had happened to him.
"He had this vitality and energy that you just wouldn't expect from someone his age," said Housewright, who became good friends with the family after the crash. "Especially from someone who had to go through what he had to."
Mitchie spent time in the Legislature lobbying with MADD to change some of Texas' drunken driving laws.
Friends reported that Mitchie repeatedly said he did not want anyone else to be a victim of a drunken driver, and he never wanted a child to be unable to walk.
Housewright said Mitchie's testimony at the Legislature was vital in getting many bills passed, including those lowering the legal blood alcohol limit from .10 to .08 and making open containers illegal.
He also advocated stricter penalties; his was the first case in Texas where a court ruled a vehicle to be a deadly weapon and convicted the driver of a felony instead of a misdemeanor.
In 2002, Mitchie was diagnosed with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a rare brain disorder that slowly infects the central nervous system. He lost the ability to speak and move any part of his body.
Despite his poor health, Mitchell was able to finish school, and he graduated from high school in 2004.
Adejumo remembers the day distinctly; Mitchie was worried he wouldn't have the strength to wheel himself across the stage, but when he did, he got a standing ovation.
He went to sleep with his diploma that night.
"Mitchie fought his illnesses for so long, his body finally gave up on him," Housewright said.
"He's just that special little boy, but his death didn't end my journey," Adejumo said. "I am going to continue to do something about drunk driving."
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3 at the Mount Sinai Baptist Church at 5900 Cameron Road. An open reception will be held at the church after services.
Gov. Rick Perry and state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, are expected to speak.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Mitchie Mitchell Foundation, c/o Mitchie's Gallery, 6406 N. Interstate 35, Suite 2800 Austin, Texas 78752.
ON OCTOBER 3, 2011, MITCHIE'S MOM POSTED A BIRTHDAY MEMORIAL IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PHOTO OF MITCHIE WITH THE BASEBALL CAP YOU WILL SEE THE EAR RING SHE IS REFERRING TO. SHE WRITES "MITCHIE WITH HIS FIRST AND ONLY EAR RING. HE WON THIS EAR RING BY PLACING A BET WITH ME THAT HE WOULD MAKE A GRADE OF 100 ON HIS SPELLING AND COMPREHENSIVE EXAM. I SAID SURE MITCHIE YOU CAN GET AN EAR RING ONLY IF YOU MAKE A 100 ON BOTH EXAMS. WELL YOU KNOW WHO WON THE BET. GOD I MISS HIM SO MUCH MOM"
Mitchie's Gallery will never be what it was intended to be: Mitchie's.
Fred "Mitchie" Leon Mitchell III, 21, died Sunday after a battle with health issues, most of which stemmed from a car wreck at a young age.
Bret Gerbe
FOR AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
"Mitchie" Mitchell's mother, Joyce Adejumo, got involved in MADD after her son was in a serious accident at age 3. Mitchell's father, Adejumo's ex-husband, was driving DRUNK.
"I made this gallery for Mitchie, so he could have something to fall back on later in life," said Joyce Adejumo, Mitchie's mother, of her African American art gallery and framing store.
Mitchie was severely injured in a drunken driving accident in Williamson County in 1989 when he was just 3 years old. The driver was his father, Fred Mitchell, who spent several years in prison after the wreck.
Mitchie's back was broken, leaving him unable to walk. A string of illnesses followed Mitchie for the remainder of his life.
Almost immediately after the crash, Adejumo became involved with MADD.
Adejumo had divorced Mitchie's father just three months prior to the wreck, saying it was because of his alcoholism.
In his short life, Mitchie underwent more than 100 operations and spent more than 1,000 days in the hospital, but Karen Housewright, the state director of MADD, said Mitchie was determined to make something good out of what had happened to him.
"He had this vitality and energy that you just wouldn't expect from someone his age," said Housewright, who became good friends with the family after the crash. "Especially from someone who had to go through what he had to."
Mitchie spent time in the Legislature lobbying with MADD to change some of Texas' drunken driving laws.
Friends reported that Mitchie repeatedly said he did not want anyone else to be a victim of a drunken driver, and he never wanted a child to be unable to walk.
Housewright said Mitchie's testimony at the Legislature was vital in getting many bills passed, including those lowering the legal blood alcohol limit from .10 to .08 and making open containers illegal.
He also advocated stricter penalties; his was the first case in Texas where a court ruled a vehicle to be a deadly weapon and convicted the driver of a felony instead of a misdemeanor.
In 2002, Mitchie was diagnosed with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a rare brain disorder that slowly infects the central nervous system. He lost the ability to speak and move any part of his body.
Despite his poor health, Mitchell was able to finish school, and he graduated from high school in 2004.
Adejumo remembers the day distinctly; Mitchie was worried he wouldn't have the strength to wheel himself across the stage, but when he did, he got a standing ovation.
He went to sleep with his diploma that night.
"Mitchie fought his illnesses for so long, his body finally gave up on him," Housewright said.
"He's just that special little boy, but his death didn't end my journey," Adejumo said. "I am going to continue to do something about drunk driving."
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3 at the Mount Sinai Baptist Church at 5900 Cameron Road. An open reception will be held at the church after services.
Gov. Rick Perry and state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, are expected to speak.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Mitchie Mitchell Foundation, c/o Mitchie's Gallery, 6406 N. Interstate 35, Suite 2800 Austin, Texas 78752.
ON OCTOBER 3, 2011, MITCHIE'S MOM POSTED A BIRTHDAY MEMORIAL IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PHOTO OF MITCHIE WITH THE BASEBALL CAP YOU WILL SEE THE EAR RING SHE IS REFERRING TO. SHE WRITES "MITCHIE WITH HIS FIRST AND ONLY EAR RING. HE WON THIS EAR RING BY PLACING A BET WITH ME THAT HE WOULD MAKE A GRADE OF 100 ON HIS SPELLING AND COMPREHENSIVE EXAM. I SAID SURE MITCHIE YOU CAN GET AN EAR RING ONLY IF YOU MAKE A 100 ON BOTH EXAMS. WELL YOU KNOW WHO WON THE BET. GOD I MISS HIM SO MUCH MOM"
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Mitchie's Gallery will never be what it was intended to be: Mitchie's.
Fred "Mitchie" Leon Mitchell III, 21, died Sunday after a battle with health issues, most of which stemmed from a car wreck at a young age.
Bret Gerbe
FOR AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
"Mitchie" Mitchell's mother, Joyce Adejumo, got involved in MADD after her son was in a serious accident at age 3. Mitchell's father, Adejumo's ex-husband, was driving DRUNK.
"I made this gallery for Mitchie, so he could have something to fall back on later in life," said Joyce Adejumo, Mitchie's mother, of her African American art gallery and framing store.
Mitchie was severely injured in a drunken driving accident in Williamson County in 1989 when he was just 3 years old. The driver was his father, Fred Mitchell, who spent several years in prison after the wreck.
Mitchie's back was broken, leaving him unable to walk. A string of illnesses followed Mitchie for the remainder of his life.
Almost immediately after the crash, Adejumo became involved with MADD.
Adejumo had divorced Mitchie's father just three months prior to the wreck, saying it was because of his alcoholism.
In his short life, Mitchie underwent more than 100 operations and spent more than 1,000 days in the hospital, but Karen Housewright, the state director of MADD, said Mitchie was determined to make something good out of what had happened to him.
"He had this vitality and energy that you just wouldn't expect from someone his age," said Housewright, who became good friends with the family after the crash. "Especially from someone who had to go through what he had to."
Mitchie spent time in the Legislature lobbying with MADD to change some of Texas' drunken driving laws.
Friends reported that Mitchie repeatedly said he did not want anyone else to be a victim of a drunken driver, and he never wanted a child to be unable to walk.
Housewright said Mitchie's testimony at the Legislature was vital in getting many bills passed, including those lowering the legal blood alcohol limit from .10 to .08 and making open containers illegal.
He also advocated stricter penalties; his was the first case in Texas where a court ruled a vehicle to be a deadly weapon and convicted the driver of a felony instead of a misdemeanor.
In 2002, Mitchie was diagnosed with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a rare brain disorder that slowly infects the central nervous system. He lost the ability to speak and move any part of his body.
Despite his poor health, Mitchell was able to finish school, and he graduated from high school in 2004.
Adejumo remembers the day distinctly; Mitchie was worried he wouldn't have the strength to wheel himself across the stage, but when he did, he got a standing ovation.
He went to sleep with his diploma that night.
"Mitchie fought his illnesses for so long, his body finally gave up on him," Housewright said.
"He's just that special little boy, but his death didn't end my journey," Adejumo said. "I am going to continue to do something about drunk driving."
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3 at the Mount Sinai Baptist Church at 5900 Cameron Road. An open reception will be held at the church after services.
Gov. Rick Perry and state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, are expected to speak.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Mitchie Mitchell Foundation, c/o Mitchie's Gallery, 6406 N. Interstate 35, Suite 2800 Austin, Texas 78752.
ON OCTOBER 3, 2011, MITCHIE'S MOM POSTED A BIRTHDAY MEMORIAL IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PHOTO OF MITCHIE WITH THE BASEBALL CAP YOU WILL SEE THE EAR RING SHE IS REFERRING TO. SHE WRITES "MITCHIE WITH HIS FIRST AND ONLY EAR RING. HE WON THIS EAR RING BY PLACING A BET WITH ME THAT HE WOULD MAKE A GRADE OF 100 ON HIS SPELLING AND COMPREHENSIVE EXAM. I SAID SURE MITCHIE YOU CAN GET AN EAR RING ONLY IF YOU MAKE A 100 ON BOTH EXAMS. WELL YOU KNOW WHO WON THE BET. GOD I MISS HIM SO MUCH MOM"
Mitchie's Gallery will never be what it was intended to be: Mitchie's.
Fred "Mitchie" Leon Mitchell III, 21, died Sunday after a battle with health issues, most of which stemmed from a car wreck at a young age.
Bret Gerbe
FOR AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
"Mitchie" Mitchell's mother, Joyce Adejumo, got involved in MADD after her son was in a serious accident at age 3. Mitchell's father, Adejumo's ex-husband, was driving DRUNK.
"I made this gallery for Mitchie, so he could have something to fall back on later in life," said Joyce Adejumo, Mitchie's mother, of her African American art gallery and framing store.
Mitchie was severely injured in a drunken driving accident in Williamson County in 1989 when he was just 3 years old. The driver was his father, Fred Mitchell, who spent several years in prison after the wreck.
Mitchie's back was broken, leaving him unable to walk. A string of illnesses followed Mitchie for the remainder of his life.
Almost immediately after the crash, Adejumo became involved with MADD.
Adejumo had divorced Mitchie's father just three months prior to the wreck, saying it was because of his alcoholism.
In his short life, Mitchie underwent more than 100 operations and spent more than 1,000 days in the hospital, but Karen Housewright, the state director of MADD, said Mitchie was determined to make something good out of what had happened to him.
"He had this vitality and energy that you just wouldn't expect from someone his age," said Housewright, who became good friends with the family after the crash. "Especially from someone who had to go through what he had to."
Mitchie spent time in the Legislature lobbying with MADD to change some of Texas' drunken driving laws.
Friends reported that Mitchie repeatedly said he did not want anyone else to be a victim of a drunken driver, and he never wanted a child to be unable to walk.
Housewright said Mitchie's testimony at the Legislature was vital in getting many bills passed, including those lowering the legal blood alcohol limit from .10 to .08 and making open containers illegal.
He also advocated stricter penalties; his was the first case in Texas where a court ruled a vehicle to be a deadly weapon and convicted the driver of a felony instead of a misdemeanor.
In 2002, Mitchie was diagnosed with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a rare brain disorder that slowly infects the central nervous system. He lost the ability to speak and move any part of his body.
Despite his poor health, Mitchell was able to finish school, and he graduated from high school in 2004.
Adejumo remembers the day distinctly; Mitchie was worried he wouldn't have the strength to wheel himself across the stage, but when he did, he got a standing ovation.
He went to sleep with his diploma that night.
"Mitchie fought his illnesses for so long, his body finally gave up on him," Housewright said.
"He's just that special little boy, but his death didn't end my journey," Adejumo said. "I am going to continue to do something about drunk driving."
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3 at the Mount Sinai Baptist Church at 5900 Cameron Road. An open reception will be held at the church after services.
Gov. Rick Perry and state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, are expected to speak.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Mitchie Mitchell Foundation, c/o Mitchie's Gallery, 6406 N. Interstate 35, Suite 2800 Austin, Texas 78752.
ON OCTOBER 3, 2011, MITCHIE'S MOM POSTED A BIRTHDAY MEMORIAL IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PHOTO OF MITCHIE WITH THE BASEBALL CAP YOU WILL SEE THE EAR RING SHE IS REFERRING TO. SHE WRITES "MITCHIE WITH HIS FIRST AND ONLY EAR RING. HE WON THIS EAR RING BY PLACING A BET WITH ME THAT HE WOULD MAKE A GRADE OF 100 ON HIS SPELLING AND COMPREHENSIVE EXAM. I SAID SURE MITCHIE YOU CAN GET AN EAR RING ONLY IF YOU MAKE A 100 ON BOTH EXAMS. WELL YOU KNOW WHO WON THE BET. GOD I MISS HIM SO MUCH MOM"
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Parents - Dr. Christopher & Joyce "Hunt" Adejuno
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