Dr. Paul Lee Mitchell, age 82, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2023 at his residence in Edinburg, TX. He was born in Steele, MO, on August 30, 1940 to John P. and Frances Etta Jernigan Mitchell. Paul graduated from high school and was an insurance salesman, then attended seminary, where he discovered his love for teaching. He obtained his Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Education from NM Highland University and his PhD from University of Southern MS. Paul enjoyed teaching and lecturing English and was instrumental in bringing the medical school program to University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He was the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, the English Department Chair and a member of the Faculty Senate. Paul enjoyed rock music, watching baseball and basketball games, and spending time with his dogs, Jupiter and Madison. He attended El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church in Edinburg, TX.
Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Browning Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Brad Hodges officiating; burial will follow in the Pontotoc Memorial Gardens. Browning Funeral Home in Pontotoc is honored to assist the family with the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Josefa Garcia-Mitchell; two daughters, Alicia Coyle (Dan) of Cornelius, NC and Mitzi Hamaker (Daren) Lufkin, TX; a special sister-in-law that Paul considered his “third daughter”, Kayleigh Garcia; his sister-in-law, Rikki Garcia (Adnae Khalio); brother-in-law, Cesar Garcia (Rebecca); niece, Victoria Skurka (Joseph Salazar) and their son Liam Salazar; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his father and mother-in-law, Reynaldo and Rosaura Garcia and two sisters-in-law, Victoria Garcia and Gloria Garcia.
Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday, March 24, 2023 from 5 to 8 PM.
Past Services
March 24, 2023
Visitation
March 25, 2023
Funeral Service
