Matthew James Mitchell

Matthew James Mitchell, 22, passed away surrounded by the family who loved him beyond words following a courageous battle with brain cancer.

Matthew was born on December 21, 2003, in Grapevine, Texas, to Kevin and Jennifer Mitchell. From kindergarten through graduation, he attended Grapevine Faith Christian School, a community that helped shape his faith, friendships, love of sports, and the young man he became.

Twenty-two years does not seem nearly long enough, but Matthew filled those years with accomplishments, friendships, laughter, determination, faith, and a lifetime of memories. Cancer became part of Matthew’s story, but it never defined his life. He proudly said he had beaten cancer twice. That was Matthew—determined, competitive, hopeful, and always ready for the next challenge.

Matthew was a beloved son, brother, best friend, brother-in-law, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend, teammate, coach, coworker, published author, loyal Houston Astros fan, and proud Texas Tech Red Raider.

Sports were a huge part of Matthew’s life. Some of his greatest memories and closest friendships were built on baseball fields, in dugouts, on road trips, and in hotels with teammates who became family. His love for the game extended beyond the field, as Matthew also served as a brand ambassador for several baseball brands, proudly representing the sport. Even Mitchell family vacations never seemed complete without finding an MLB game somewhere along the way. And wherever Matthew went, his baseball glove, named “Brittany” was rarely far behind.

As he grew older, Matthew gave back to the game he loved by coaching younger players with the Barons. His “kids,” as he affectionately called them, held a special place in his heart.

After graduating from Grapevine Faith Christian School, Matthew attended Hendrix College, where he continued playing the game he loved as a college baseball player. Eventually, Matthew’s heartstrings pulled him towards Lubbock and Texas Tech University. What began as a change in schools became one of the most defining chapters of his life. Texas Tech became home.

At Texas Tech, Matthew joined Kappa Sigma Fraternity, following in his dad’s footsteps. Ethan and Nick were not only two of his best friends but also his Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers. That brotherhood gave Matthew another special connection with his dad and surrounded him with friends who stood beside him through some of the most important moments of his life.

Matthew excelled academically and professionally while building relationships that became incredibly meaningful to him and his family. He worked with Texas Tech Red Raider Club and Ticket Office and took tremendous pride in being part of the university he loved.

While earning his undergraduate degree, Matthew became a published author, working alongside Dr. Hoyoon Jung on research he later presented at the Applied Sport Management Conference in Cincinnati. Matthew was especially proud to be the only undergraduate in his department to have published research.

Two weeks after that conference, in March 2025, at only 21 years old, Matthew was diagnosed with brain cancer. After brain surgery and while undergoing treatment, including proton radiation, Matthew continued his education, research, and work with the Red Raider Club. In August 2025, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University.

Only twelve months later, while still fighting brain cancer, Matthew earned his master’s degree from Texas Tech University in August 2026. During that year, he flew to Dallas every week for treatment and caught the red-eye flight back to Lubbock so he would not miss work or class. Despite the physical and emotional toll, Matthew refused to allow cancer to take away from the future he had worked so hard to build. Matthew was a Red Raider through and through.

Through all of it, not one time did Matthew complain to a doctor or nurse about what was being asked of him. No matter how difficult the treatment, uncomfortable the procedure, or bad he felt, his response was almost always: “Yes, ma’am,” “No, ma’am,” and “Thank you.” Let’s just say his doctors and nurses were not always used to hearing that from someone enduring everything Matthew was facing. His kindness and respect never disappeared, even on his hardest days.

Even during his most difficult moments, Matthew often worried more about those he loved than himself. He faced each challenge with determination, humor, and an unwavering faith in God. Matthew taught us that courage is not the absence of fear or hardship—it is continuing to live, love, laugh, show kindness, and believe in the middle of it. His strength changed the people around him.

Matthew never met a stranger. Age, background, popularity, or circumstance did not matter to him. He could be just as comfortable talking with a young child as someone in later years of life and genuinely call them both friends. Matthew had a gift for seeing people others sometimes overlooked. He included them, listened to them, and made them feel they belonged. Matthew could find something to talk about and usually leave you feeling like you had known him for years.

Friends, teammates, coaches, coworkers, professors, doctors, nurses, fraternity brothers, and people from every chapter of Matthew’s life surrounded him and the Mitchell family with extraordinary love. During his final days, many of those relationships came full circle as people who had walked alongside Matthew throughout his life came to sit with him, tell stories, laugh, remember, and simply be together.

Through everything, Matthew and his family remained grounded in their faith and belief that God’s hands were present throughout his journey—even during the moments they could not understand.

Perhaps the greatest legacy Matthew leaves behind cannot be measured by degrees, accomplishments, awards, or anything else of this world, but by the lives he touched and the people he helped lead closer to Christ. Through the way Matthew lived, fought, and trusted in God, he inspired others to strengthen their faith, return to their faith, and, in some cases, come to know Jesus. Matthew’s faith was never something he simply talked about; it was something people witnessed through the way he lived. For our family, there could be no greater accomplishment or more meaningful legacy.

Cancer may have attacked Matthew’s body, but it could never defeat his spirit, take away his faith, or diminish the impact of his life. If even one person knows Christ because of Matthew’s story, then his 22 years on this earth had an eternal impact. We know it has been far more than one.

The Mitchell family will forever be grateful to the countless people who prayed for Matthew, cared for him, visited him, encouraged him, and loved him. The compassion shown by Grapevine Faith Christian School, Texas Tech University, Red Raider Club, Texas Tech Athletics, Texas Tech College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Sports Management, Old Union Elementary School, RWC, his medical teams, friends, fraternity brothers, coaches, teammates, and the entire community surrounding the family will never be forgotten.

Matthew’s life was far too short, but his life was not small. He accomplished more in 22 years than many accomplish in a lifetime. More importantly, he loved and was loved tremendously. There will always be an empty seat at the Mitchell family table. There will always be moments when his family instinctively wants to call or text him. There will always be a Red Raider game, baseball field, song, story, or inside joke that immediately brings Matthew back into the room. And there will always be people walking this earth who are different because they knew him.

Matthew leaves behind a legacy of perseverance, loyalty, friendship, courage, faith, and love. His influence will continue through his family, friends, the young men he coached, his Grapevine Faith family, his Hendrix baseball family, his Texas Tech family, and every person whose faith was changed because they witnessed the way he lived.

Matthew is survived by his loving parents, Kevin and Jennifer Mitchell; his sister, Macie Cawood, and brother-in-law, Hayden Cawood; his grandmothers, Sadie Williams and Cecilia Mitchell; and his grandfather, James Mitchell.

He is also survived by his aunt and uncle, Debbie and Kevin Bennett; his uncle and aunt, Stasey and Mary Mitchell; his uncle and aunt, Mark and Dawn Williams; his aunt Molly Thorn, and his cousins, Zachary Bennett, Morgan Bennett, Erin Mitchell, Merritt Mitchell, Cully Reid, Madyson Williams, Audrey Williams, Alexandra Williams, Bobby and Janet Williams, along with extended family and countless friends who loved him dearly.

Matthew was preceded in death by his grandfather, James Kyle Williams.

A celebration of Matthew’s life will be held Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at White’s Chapel Methodist Church. The family asks everyone attending to wear their finest Texas Tech game day attire or something red and black.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Matthew James Mitchell Red Raider Club Endowment at Texas Tech University, established to honor Matthew’s love for Texas Tech and sports and ensure his legacy continues to impact future generations of Red Raiders.

Texas Tech Foundation

Box 45025,

Lubbock, TX 79409-5025

Tax ID#75-6043842

Matthew James Mitchell Red Raider Club Endowment

Wreck ’Em forever, Matthew.