Mona Denise Mitchell

Mona was born in Florence, AL on March 31, 1965, to Dennis and Kay Mitchell.

She is survived by her husband: James Smith, 1 daughter: Thera McAvoy, 2 sons: Corwin McAvoy and Forrest McAvoy, 2 grandchildren: Dorian McAvoy and Evan McAvoy, 1 brother: David Mitchell, and 1 sister: Bonnie Mitchell.

Mona attended high school in Jackson, Mississippi, and graduated from University of Alabama Huntsville with a BS in Biology.

She was an active protestor of social, economic, and political injustice for most of her life, always polite and friendly, willing to talk to or help even a stranger. She took up raising chickens, bred them for survivability in local conditions, and gave away the eggs to anyone who wanted them. She was an avid reader, particularly of genre fiction; the grander the world a story swept her off to the more she loved it, and she encouraged her children in their writing. Though she hated the "office" politics, she loved working around books as a librarian for many years, loved her family, and would keep up with every distant cousin, aunt, or uncle; loved upbeat, eccentric music; went to music festivals in her younger days, tie-dyed t-shirts, the whole experience; traveled widely and often visited parks, gardens, and forests, finding peace in natural beauty; enjoyed going to conventions, dressing up for occasions, meeting interesting people and talking about shared passions. She loved her dog, Dewdrop, who she took everywhere -- often to visit her two grandsons who she always doted on. Her greatest motivation was to leave a better world for her family.

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 19, 2026, between 10:00 am and 11:50 am at the McConnell Funeral Home in Athens, AL. A Celebration Of Life Service will be following the visitation at 12:00 noon at McConnell Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Hatchett Cemetery in Athens, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Amnesty International.