William Douglas Mitchell, Sr., fondly known as Doug, was born on April 22, 1943 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. On April 22, 2019, surrounded by loving family and friends, Doug celebrated his 76 ^th birthday and an hour later at 2:35 p.m., he was called home to be with our Lord. Doug's life was shaped by the loving care and guidance he received from his mother, Wilhelmina Mitchell Beck, his grandmother whom he lovingly called Mama, Saludia Mitchell, and his mother's oldest brother, Howard Mitchell and his wife, Dorothy. All of them preceded him in death.

Doug engaged everyone he encountered and spread joy and inspiring words. Every person Doug came across would quickly and easily become a friend because of his magnetic an outgoing nature. He carried on conversations with strangers and friends alike treating them all as equals. Doug had a zest for life with a particular focus of encouraging young people to do their best and to strive for their goals. Doug loved sports, his multitude of friends, he loved God and most importantly he loved his family.

Doug married the love of his life, Rodessa Dalton, in 1973. For 46 short years, they were blessed with a life full of true love and commitment. Their love created two loving, amazing children whom he adored, Kimberley Mitchell Chalk (Christopher) of Brooklyn, New York, and William "D.J." Mitchell, Jr. of Charlotte, N.C. He devoted his life to meeting their needs, supporting their goals and maintaining a happy family. Two great highlights of his life were walking his daughter, Kimberley, down the aisle and watching his son, D.J., pitch at Yankee Stadium.

Doug's love of Jesus Christ began at Saint James United Methodist Church, Rural Hall, where he served as a life-long member. Over the years, he performed a number of roles for the church including chair of the Pastor-Parrish Relations Committee and Board of Trustees. Doug loved his church family and his infectious personality was admired by all.

Doug graduated in 1961 from Carver High School in Winston-Salem, NC. He excelled in baseball, basketball, and football. Doug graduated from the Winston-Salem Business College in 1970. Doug followed in his uncle, Howard Mitchell's, footsteps becoming a member of the James H. Young Memorial Lodge #670, a 32 ̊  Mason in the King Solomon  Consistory No. 64 and former member of the Shriners Sethos Temple #170 where he enjoyed participating in the drill patrol.

Doug had a love of sports but the sport he enjoyed most was baseball. In his early teen years Doug played with adult teams throughout the area. Doug served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and while stationed in Germany he played on the U.S. Army team excelling as a second baseman. After Doug's Army tour of duty, he returned to Rural Hall, NC and played for the semi-professional team, the Winston-Salem Pond Giants, for almost 15 years. He also played softball for the Winston-Salem Stars.

Doug had a rewarding career coaching Little League in Rural Hall and he formed and coached a girls' softball team, the Rural Hall Sluggers, who won almost every tournament they entered. Later, while serving as a long-term substitute teacher, he coached the basketball team at Northwest Middle School that went undefeated his last year of coaching, and he assisted in coaching softball and tennis at North Forsyth High School and Volleyball at Atkins High School.  Doug was also a basketball referee for a number of years. He got his start by referring high school games and eventually moved to the collegiate level where he refereed for the CIAA, MEAC, and ACC. He also umpired high school and semi-pro baseball and enjoyed assisting with scorekeeping and clock operations for basketball and football games at Winston-Salem State University.

While involved in sports, Doug held a full-time job at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company where he worked for 38 years. His co-workers gave him the nick-name, "99" because of a Cowboy's jersey he wore to work one day. After retirement, he devoted his life to helping others. In addition to his involvement in sports, he served as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, the VA Clinic in Kernersville, and the National Black Theater Festival. Until the very end Doug was determined to help others. Recently during his own cancer treatment, he continued volunteering in order to help others struggling with the disease.

In addition to his wife, and children, Doug's memory will be cherished by his cousin-sister

June Poindexter Anthony of Winston-Salem, NC, and cousin-friend Roland Eller of Clemmons, NC; his mother and father-in law, Mary Pearl and Frank D. Dalton of Walnut Cove, NC, sisters-in-law, Cynthia D. Robertson of Brown Summit, NC and Cassandra D. Graves (Jaffa, Sr.) of Greensboro; brothers-in-law, Anthony E.  Dalton, Sr., (Sandra - deceased) of Walnut Cove, NC, and Frank D. Dalton, Jr. of Landover, Maryland. Also, Doug loved and was loved by a host of nieces, nephews, special cousins, and forever friends.

Family visitation will be held on Friday, May 3, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at Kingswood United Methodist Church, 6840 University Parkway, Rural Hall, N.C., followed by funeral services at 12:00 noon with Military Rites. Burial will follow at the Saint James United Methodist Church Cemetery with Masonic Rites. If desired, gifts in Doug's memory to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, W-S, NC 27103, will be appreciated.