Barbara Anne Mitchell

Barbara Anne Barksdale Mitchell was born in Trenton, Tennessee on March 29, 1934 and departed this world to take her place beside her husband and the Lord on January 8, 2024.

Anne She was preceded in death by her husband of seventy years, Howard Lynn Mitchell, her daughter Amelia Anne Mitchell, her parents Guy Randell and Loueda Smithey Barksdale of Trenton, Tennessee, her two brothers Thomas H. Bruce of Astoria Queens, New York, Buddy Clark Barksdale of Bolivar, Tennessee, and her sister Joyce Bruce Arnett of Memphis, Tennessee.

Anne is survived by three sons, John Michael Mitchell of Benton, Arkansas, Patrick Lynn Mitchell of Frisco, Texas, and David Matthew Mitchell of Plano, Texas. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Michael Lynn Mitchell of Benton, Lisa Nicole Mitchell of Little Rock, David Matthew Mitchell, Jr., Andrew Logan Mitchell, and five great grandchildren, Anna Claire Mitchell, Reid Walker Mitchell, Libby Caroline Mitchell, Grant Thomas Mitchell and Olive Ella Henthorn of Benton, Arkansas and Little Rock, respectively.

Outside of her family, Anne's life work and passion was as an educator. She attended Union University in Jackson, Tennessee and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education. During her career she taught Literature, History and other subjects; most recently at the Arkansas School for the Blind, until her retirement. Her students and colleagues held a special significance to her, even until her passing, as she did to them. She served on the Pulaski County Special School District Board of Education, was active in local politics, and was a positive influence on the lives of everyone she encountered.

Anne will be remembered for an unflinching devotion to her family and friends, her Christian faith, her wit, humor, intelligence, and tenacious spirit that both sustained her in life and transcends her in death. She was admired and loved in her lifetime and will be sadly missed in her absence.

Weather permitting, a memorial visitation celebrating Anne's life will be held at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St, North Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM.

She will be interred at Oakland Cemetery in Trenton, Tennessee.