Fred Leon “Sonny” Mitchell, Sr. was born September 10, 1929 in Gibson, Louisiana to George and Mollie Lovett.  He departed this life Saturday, September 5, 2015 at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur.
He was a 1946 graduate of Charlton-Pollard High School in Beaumont and was drafted in the US Army in 1951.  Bro. He was a longtime Pharmacist and a faithful and longtime member of the Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church.
Bro. Mitchell is preceded in death by his parents; his devoted wife of 55 years, Dr. Verlie Mitchell; son, Rev. Fred Leon Mitchell, Jr.; sister, Eola Bernice Phillips; grandson Fred Leon “Mitchie” Mitchell, III; aunt, Eva Phillips and sister-in-law, Maude Galloway.
He leaves to cherish his memories his devoted daughter Eleanor Mitchell; son, Carl Mitchell; “like-a-son” Rev. Dwight Benoit (Gayla) all of Beaumont, TX; grandchildren, Carl Mitchell, Jr. of San Antonio, TX, Courtney Mitchell and great -granddaughter Megan Mitchell of Beaumont, TX; goddaughter Charlotte McElroy of Houston, TX and daughter-in-law, Harriet Mitchell of Port Arthur, TX; along with many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, 501 W. Thomas Blvd., Port Arthur, TX with a visitation from 12 noon until service time.  Entombment will follow in Live Oak Cemetery under the direction of Gabriel Funeral Home, Port Arthur, TX.