Anna Nell Mingle

Nell Townsend Mingle, 87, passed away on February 25, 2021 after a valiant effort to recover from a major stroke. She spent her last days in the tender care of Community Hospice Hadlow Center in Jacksonville with her loving son Bryan Mingle by her side.

Nell was a lifelong resident of Jacksonville, where she spent her childhood in a large family on a small farm off Old Kings Road in what is now known as Brierwood. That is where she discovered her love of baking, canning fruits and vegetables and learning that hard work is its own reward. She worked for the same ob/gyn group of doctors for most of her career, after a short stint as a cafeteria manager at American National Bank in San Marco neighborhood of Jacksonville, where she prepared lucky employees her home-cooked meals for lunch. She was a long-time member of Baymeadows Missionary Baptist Church. In addition to raising three sons with her devoted husband Richard, she baked and decorated wedding cakes for family and friends. She learned how to do this with a neighbor reading the Wilton Book of Wedding Cakes. By hers and others’ accounts, she was Martha Stewart and Paula Dean rolled into one before they ever became TV sensations.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Mingle Sr., sons Donald Ray Mingle and Richard Mingle Jr., parents James Alexander Townsend and Mary Ann Townsend and siblings James T. Townsend, Nona Cox, Melba Faye Townsend, John Townsend, Thelma Townsend, Wilbur Townsend, Clyde Townsend, Gladys Hammond, Marie Townsend Wilkins. Nell is survived by her son, Bryan Mingle, sisters Mary Juanita Wilson, Jean Cox Benton, brother Raymond Townsend, grandsons Samuel Alexander Mingle, Bradley Mingle, Christopher Brooks, and several great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews, and their children. The family wish to acknowledge the staff at Woodland Grove, formerly known as Southpoint Terrace, who considered “Nell the Southern Belle” a member of their family for the 11 years she lived in their care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Community Hospice & Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257, or give online at https://www.communityhospice.com/give/

There will be a private Celebration of Life led by Community Hospice Spiritual Chaplain Tracy Tucker at Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home at noon on March 2, 2021, after visitation hours that begin at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Chapel Hills Cemetery. Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills is located at 850 St. Johns Bluff Road North, Jacksonville, Fl.

Per CDC guidelines, the wearing of face coverings by all in attendance will be enforced.