Mr William Garner "Bill" Mitchell

William (Bill) Garner Mitchell was born June 11th, 1936 and died peacefully at home on December 17th, 2025. He was the son of Jerone B. Mitchell, M.D, and Inez Mathis Mitchell.

Bill was reared in Memphis, Tennessee and educated in Memphis Public Schools. After graduating from Messick High School, where he was vice president of his senior class, he attended the University of Arkansas and transferred to Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) graduating in January 1958. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and was president his senior year.

He began his hospital career at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, TN. He enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis, MO and graduated with a Masters of Healthcare Administration. He continued his career in hospitals in Mississippi, Texas, Missouri, Alabama, and Natchez, MS where he served for 22 years.

Mitchell was active in the Mississippi Hospital Association serving as chairman of the board. In addition he was active in the American Association of Healthcare administration and represented Mississippi as the Mississippi delegate.

In Natchez, he was appointed chairman of the Natchez Bicentennial Committee celebrating our country's 200th birthday. Mitchell was a member of the Rotary Club for 25 years, serving several offices including president.

In retirement, Bill volunteered at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Switzerland and Czech Republic for four summers. He then spent 15 summers volunteering at the Green Lake conference in Green Lake, Wisconsin.

Bill was married to Betty Barnett Mitchell for 63 wonderful years. Together they enjoyed volunteering, traveling, and being a part of their grand and great-grand children's lives. He was the father of two daughters, Elizabeth Mitchell Robinson (Kirk Robinson) of Dallas, TX and Carolyn Mitchell Pintard (Dan Pittman) of Ocean Springs, MS. He was a proud grandfather to five grandchildren; Barnett Knapp, Landon Knapp (Kaylee Knapp), Brooks Robinson, Ashley Robinson Mayes (Thomas Mayes), all of Dallas, TX and Mattie Page Pintard of Natchez, MS, as well four great-grandchildren; Joe Knapp, Liam Knapp, Sawyer Knapp, and Micah Mayes.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and two sisters.

Pallbearers will be Barnett Knapp, Landon Knapp, Brooks Robinson, Thomas Mayes, James Cochran, and Ted Allen. Honorary pallbearers are Joe and Liam Knapp.

Services will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Hattiesburg on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. Burial will follow at 3:00 PM, Dec. 20, 2025, at the Barnett Memorial Gardens, in Madden, MS under the direction of Wilcox Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill Mitchell's memory may be made to The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation.