Mr. Robert Louis Mitchell

Mr. Robert L. Mitchell, 70, entered into eternal rest on February 5, 2019 at his home in Hampton, Virginia.

 Born in Campbell County, Virginia on July 7, 1948, Robert (Mitch) was raised in Lynchburg, Virginia. He graduated from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in Lynchburg, Virginia.

 Mitch earned a BA degree in Elementary Education from St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia, and M.Ed. in School Administration from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He continued post graduate studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia and Nova Southwestern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  

Mr. Mitchell, as he was known professionally, had a distinguished career in Virginia public education.  Like his mother, he started his career as a teacher.  He was promoted throughout the years to assistant principal, principal, central office administrator, and superintendent.  

After 40 years of service to the education system, he retired as the Director of Programs for Exceptional Children in 2010 from Virginia Beach City Public Schools. 

He was the thirteenth African American to lead a Virginia public school system and the first African American superintendent of Gloucester County schools. At the age of 40, he was one of the state’s youngest public school leaders.

Mr. Mitchell was an ambassador for education and an advocate for children, working to ensure that the underserved received all of the benefits they deserved.  

He traveled the country educating school systems about children with special needs.  He was a motivator, encouraging children and adults alike to meet their full potential.

 He was a huge proponent of the education profession, he believed that “no one profession touches more lives than teachers.” “They are the foundation of our country, our heritage and our culture.”   

Mitch lived a full life.  If you ever visited his home, you were certain to receive a hot meal which included an item from his smoker or grill.  Although he was an only child, his closest friends were his brothers.  He was a loyal friend to the core of him.  

Mitch will be remembered as a very loving and caring father, grandfather, and friend.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Eula Booth Mitchell and then wife Yvonne Mitchell. 

Left to cherish his memory are his loving and dedicated daughter, Tiffany N. Mitchell (Keith Foster), Hampton, Virginia; son, Michael Smith (Andrea), Silver Springs, Maryland, and sister/cousin, Ann Pannell, Lynchburg, Virginia.

In addition, he is survived by his grandchildren Braxton, Cyrus, Caleb, and Kamaree; nieces, Lisa Hubbard and Nikia Miller; loving companion Shellae Blackwell and loving family and friends including, Joyce Mitchell-Owens (mother of Tiffany), Alveta J.Green; Fletcher Thompson, Melvin Pinn, Raymond Robinson, Donald Culpeper, Al Taliaferro, Roger Hathaway, James Howard, Patrick Konopnicki and many other special friends.  

It is the desire of the Mitchell family that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Services will be held 11:00a.m. Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at New Hope Baptist Church 1415 Big Bethel Rd. Hampton, VA 23666 by Dr. Christopher C. Carter Sr.

Interment will follow at Hampton Memorial Gardens.

A viewing will be held 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, February 12, 2019 at Beach Funeral & Cremations 4456 Bonney Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462.

The family of the late Mr. Robert Louis Mitchell has entrusted his final care to the staff at C.C. Carter Funeral Home, Inc.

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