Helen Marie Mitchell

Helen Marie Mitchell, the daughter of the late Helen Rachel Goodwin and William Goodwin was born in Roanoke Rapids, N.C. on January 31, 1939. On Sunday, October 10, 2004, the weather was perfect. It was like a spring day. Marie decided she wanted to go shopping, and she called her friend, Bernice to take her shopping (for her grandchildren). They spent a few hours out enjoying the weather, and then they decided to stop to pick up some food. Marie sat at the table to eat her food while Bernice went to get silverware, but the food was never eaten by Marie. Marie received her elementary education in the Halifax County public school and joined the Piney Grove Baptist Church as a child. Marie moved to Baltimore in 1956, where she attended Frederick Douglas High School but dropped out to get married and to have her first child, Sterling Hugh Mitchell. Marie was a very determined person who had strong feelings about education. She attended night school where she received her GED, then went on to get her BA degree at what was known as Coppin’s State Teacher’s College. After finishing Coppin’s State’s Teacher’s College, still determined, Marie attended Johns Hopkins University where she received her Master’s Degree. Marie also received some credits towards her Ph.D.Marie was divorced from Wellington H. Mitchell early on. She later married Donald Nolan who predeceased her. Marie was employed in Baltimore City Public Schools, teaching Special Education, tutoring and also teaching adults at night. She retired in 1999 due to her illness.Marie was a devoted grandmother before and after retiring. A conversation could not start without her speaking of her grandchildren. She was a member of the Christian Community Church of God.Those left to cherish the memories of her love are her children, Sterling Hugh Mitchell, Sr., Cynthia Jones; her step-children, Donald Nolan, Jr. and Brenda Jenkins; her grandchildren, Sterling H. Mitchell, Jr., Cortni Joes, Mark Jones, Jr., and Dmitri Fulton; her brother, Willie L. Goodwin of Baltimore; sisters, Anne S. Savage of Baltimore and Cozie M. Lassiter of Germany; her two aunts who she was devoted to: Mary Goodwin Bowser, and Margaret Goodwin People; her sister-in-law, Dorothy Goodwin; nieces, nephew, and cousins. Marie also leaves to mourn three devoted friends (Bernice Hocker, Jerene Butler, and Michael Fulton) were there for her every moment of the day and night, who could tolerate her sometimes curt ways, and never asked for anything but her friendship.

Tributes

Helen Marie Mitchell

January 31, 1939 - October 10, 2004