Joan Delisa Mitchell

Joan Delisa McGaffie was born in Champagne, Illinois to Joseph Jr. and Susie Anner Lymas-McGaffie on February 24, 1944.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years Roynold Louis Mitchell. Four children: Phoebe Durell Graves (Stephen), RL Mitchell, Rochelle Jeannine Fitzgerald (Gary) and Riana Jurrae Dixon (Michael). Seven grandchildren: Andrea Patrice Graves, Roman Laighton Mitchell, Philip Anthony Graves, Mikayla Britney Fitzgerald-Johnson (Jaisen), Carson Merrill Mitchell, Chloe Ava Dixon, and Claire Elise Dixon, and one great-grandchild Roman Elijah Mitchell. Siblings: Lawrence McGaffie (Tina), Loretta Henry, Carl McGaffie (Betty), and Larry McGaffie. Joan was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Susie McGaffie and her brother, Charles McGaffie.
Joan Delisa Mitchell was baptized on June 28, 1958. Joan loved the ministry, helping people to learn about Jehovah. She began regular pioneering in January 1965, serving where there was a greater need for Kingdom proclaimers in an isolated group in Huntsville, Texas with her 6 lifetime friends Barbara, Eloise, Ethel, Isabel, Joyce, and Sandra.
In November 1967, she met her soon to be husband - Roynold Louis Mitchell. They married on June 1, 1968 in Houston, Texas. Just one year later in July 1969, Roy and Joan attended an 8-day convention in Kansas City, Missouri. At that convention of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society made an appeal for families with the desire and circumstances to serve where the need was greater and strengthen congregations. It was at that time Roy and Joan offered themselves willingly and began serving in Joliet, Illinois. This began a beautiful spiritual life of being need greaters; serving in various congregations in Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, and Texas.
When pioneer schools were first implemented in 1977, Joan had the privilege of attending one of the first classes. She served as a regular pioneer for a total of 42 years. Over time, she attended a total of 6 pioneer schools, the last being in 2024.
Joan loved the ministry! She was always in the ministry, no matter the weather. Snow? She loved the cold and snow! She would be in the ministry up to her knees in snow. And probably wearing a short sleeve blouse. Ice? She slipped and slided to the doors. Rain? No problem, she used an umbrella. Heat? Well, she never liked the heat but she was in the ministry even if it was a heatwave.
Because of her love for the ministry, she continued pioneering with each of her four children, trying to develop within them that same love of the truth. Due to her fine example, her mother, husband, three of her children as well as three of her grandchildren all pioneered.

During their lifelong service to Jehovah, Joan and Roy aided over 75 people into the truth. Reflecting on witnessing generations of families come to love Jehovah, she once wrote, "Jehovah has really blessed us in many ways, 1. helping many congregations to develop and grow; 2. aiding many into the truth; 3. forming many friendships all around the world. As I look back over the years, we have had some very happy moments."
Roy and Joan loved to travel. Many friends and family such as Janie Ballard, Therman and Delores Lott, Terry and Shenita Miller, Becky Gray, and Loretta Henry along with many others loved joining them on their travel adventures.

They were privileged to attend several International and special conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses. Their travels took them to San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1998; Paris, France in 2001; Frankfurt, Germany 2006; Pretoria, South Africa 2013; Toronto, Canada 2017; Miami, Florida and Houston, Texas 2019.
In April 2013, Joan wrote one of her daughters, "Together dad and I gave you children the best spiritual heritage you could ever have, and Jehovah blessed our efforts. If I died tomorrow, I would be as Job expressed at Job 42:16,17."

SEE YOU IN PARADISE my dear wife, our loving mother, faithful sister and friend.
Your presence here today is a testimony to Joan's infectious joy and love for people. That smile that would light up a room. Her fashion style that elevated any space. We all wait for the day to hug her again. Oh Jehovah, may it come soon!

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