James Mitchell

Having completed 84 years of his earthly work, James Harlan Mitchell was called home by his Maker on Wednesday, August 30, 2017. Known as Harlan to his family and Jim to his social circle, his most important names were Daddy and PawPaw. Harlan was born on August 9, 1933 to Willie D Mitchell and Margie Ezell Mitchell in the red dirt countryside family home outside of Conehatta, Mississippi. The oldest of six children, his father's untimely death at the age of 47 thrust him into a leadership role at the tender age of 17 and he met that challenge every day for the rest of his 67 plus years. Following graduation from Conehatta High School and service to his country in the United States Army, he became a proud graduate of Mississippi State University. Upon his marriage to Janice, the newlyweds moved to Baton Rouge in 1958 and Jim embarked on a 40-plus year professional career that began with a 27-year employment with Fidelity National Bank. A sweet, caring man and a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, we say goodbye to his physical presence but he will never ever leave our hearts. Harlan is survived by his beloved wife, of 59 years, Lanie Janice McKinney Mitchell; their three children, James D. "Jim" Mitchell and wife, Karen, Jerolyn D. Mitchell Huff and husband, Matt, and Jason D. Mitchell; one sibling, Nell Mitchell Ledlow of Decatur, Mississippi; grandchildren, Shelley Waltman Joiner (Casey), Hayley Mitchell Hornstein (Owen III), Claire Caldwell Huff, and Jackson Brady Mitchell; two great-grandchildren, Mason James Joiner and Madelyn Elizabeth Joiner. He is preceded in death by his parents, Willie D Mitchell and Margie Ezell Mitchell; four of his siblings, Elizabeth Mitchell Price, Margene Mitchell Willett, Gerald D Mitchell, and Ronnie D Mitchell. Visiting hours will be Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, from 11:00am until Funeral Service at 2:00pm. Burial will follow in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Special thanks to Dr. David Sledge for more than two decades of medical care and the staffs of Home Instead and St. Joseph Hospice that helped provide care and comfort in his latter days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Broadmoor Baptist Church or St. Joseph Hospice. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.

Visitation

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Saturday, September 2, 2017
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Service

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Saturday, September 2, 2017
2:00 pm

Cemetery

Resthaven Gardens of Memory
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816