Bernice Brazil Mitchell, faithful wife, loving mother and proud grandmother passed from this earthly life on June 30, 2009 in Oklahoma City, OK. She was born in Gowen, Okla on February 5, 1917 to Mr. and Mrs. Winifred Brazil and graduated from Haileyville High School. Bernice was a one of a kind lady who befriended everyone she met and often caused them to smile or laugh with her fabulous sense of humor and never ending repertoire of jokes and poems. She married John Samuel (Sam) Mitchell on December 20, 1942. They met when he stopped his car to aid Bernice when she fell from her bicycle. They had 57 years of marriage before Sam's death in 1999. Bernice was a trail blazer in her time, with a sense of responsibility and adventure. She accepted a position as the first female secretary at the Navy Ammunition Depot during the war when the military men were going overseas. This opened the door for other women to follow and serve their country in this capacity. Years later when the children came along, Bernice then became a stay-at-home mother working from an office in her home years before it became a popular thing to do. Later she became the first Executive Director of the Hartshorne and Haileyville Housing Authorities, a career that spanned over 28 years. Her housing projects were exemplary and became a model for other housing developments across the state. In addition, Bernice organized pot-luck lunches at the community center which later grew into the Senior Citizen's Nutrition Program. Eventually, this program became federally funded and added the delivery of hot lunches for home-bound seniors. Bernice continued the directorship of this program until the age of 82 when she retired. At that time the dining area of the new community center was named in her honor. She was a member of the First Baptist Church where she taught the adolescent class for many years. Bernice was often not content to be just a member of an organization, but instead served in many leadership roles, i.e., president of local AARP, Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, president of the Worthy Matron Club of Hartshone and McAlester, president of the Business and Professional Women's Club and on the planning committee of the new Hartshorne City Library building and member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Sam, five brothers, Winfred, Harvey, Floyd, Virgil and Bill Brazil and one sister Dorothy Whiting. She is survived by her daughter Brenda Mitchell of Stillwater, OK, her son Dr. Scott Mitchell and wife Laura of Okla City, a step-daughter Floye and husband Tom Patton of Guthrie, OK. Grandchildren Jeremy Mitchell, Sarah Mitchell Thompson, Shawna Mitchell Cruz and Sammy Mitchell. Also, Lynne Coppage, Kelly Elston, Tamara Elston and Dixie Elston and six great grandchildren. She is also survived by her best friends, her sister Marie Kelton of Okla City, and her sister-in-law Joy Price and husband Ralph also of Okla City. Her life and accomplishments had meaning and her quiet, gentle presence will be greatly missed.Services will be Friday July 3rd at 10:00 at the First Baptist Church in Hartshorne. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday evening at the Brumley-Mills Funeral Home in Hartshorne. Pallbearers will be her son and grandsons. In remembrance, contributions may be made to a charity of your choice or to the Hartshorne City Library. In her honor, make others smile by telling a joke or poem or by repeating a positive affirmation.
Published in the McAlester News-Capital on 7/2/2009