Our beloved mother Zeta Mitchell was born Zeta Ann Boyd September 15, 1922 in the town of Lucky Hill, Saint Mary parish on the beautiful island of Jamaica. She became affectionately known as Dottie a little later in her life or as Ms. Dot in adulthood probably in reference to her always very petite size. She was 1 of the 11 children born to Frank and Eva Boyd. She had a love and zest for life that was evident even as a child. An outstanding student in grade school she was an avid reader – anything she could get her hands on she loved to read. That love for books never left her and became the inspiration for the profession she later chose in life. Childhood was also when she fell in love with her Savior Jesus Christ as a result first and foremost of the Holy Spirit touching her heart, the wonderful example of God’s love in action demonstrated by her godly parents, the consistent spiritual training they gave her, and the love for the Bible they instilled in her and that told her all about Jesus who died and rose again for her. She loved and was loved by every one of her siblings and made it a point to keep in touch with them throughout her life as long as she was able to.
She had a strong thirst for learning which drove her to enthusiastically pursue more and more education with every opportunity she was given. She attended West Indies College in Mandeville, Jamaica where she excelled in her studies while also diligently working on and off campus to pay for that education. When she got the opportunity to continue her education in the United States she jumped at the chance. That was the catalyst for her ending up at Atlantic Union College in Lancaster, Massachusetts where she again excelled in her studies while also learning to adapt to a very different climate than the delightfully balmy one she was used to including her first exposure to snow. It was there that she met and fell in love with a handsome, hardworking and ambitious young man named Paltiel Emanuel Mitchell (PE) who was originally from Harry Watch, Manchester parish also on the beautiful island of Jamaica. Their love for each other blossomed and culminated in their marriage in the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist church in Harlem, New York on June 16, 1957.
Armed with a strong faith in God, their love for each other and a desire for new adventures, they decided they wanted to explore what life had to offer 3,000 miles away in the very northwest corner of the United States in the city of Seattle. This was about as far away from their roots in Jamaica as you could get in the US but they didn’t allow that to discourage them. They just brought the rich cultural legacy of Jamaica with them to Seattle and became champions of promoting that culture as well as sponsoring numerous Jamaicans in adopting the welcoming city of Seattle as their new home. Mom was well known and loved for the love and compassion she had for anyone who needed help and she would always open up her home and share the delicious output of her wonderful culinary skills with whoever she could.
Mom was an anchor and very active member at the Spruce Street SDA Church in Seattle which later became the Emerald City Community SDA Church. She enjoyed serving in different capacities there including using her melodious soprano voice to sing praises to God in the church choir as well as skillfully playing the piano; but her favorite ministry was several years as Sabbath School teacher for kindergarten and primary age children. She was wonderful with them and helped instill in them the same love for Jesus and the Bible that her parents had instilled in her.
In keeping with her love for children, Mom (and fortunately Dad too) was eager to start a family. She took on that task with very impressive efficiency having 4 boys in 4 years each 1 year apart: Michael came first in 1959, then David in 1960, Byron in 1961 and Paul bringing up the rear in 1962. She reluctantly gave up on having a girl but she later always tried to reassure us that although there was some initial disappointment at being the sole family representative of the female gender she wouldn’t have had it any other way. Not satisfied with the herculean challenge of raising 4 very energetic boys and with that ever present thirst for more knowledge motivating her, Mom took on the new challenge of pursuing an advanced university degree. She enrolled at the University of Washington and successfully earned her Masters Degree in Library Science. This was the perfect fit and outlet for her going way back to her childhood deep love of books. Earning that degree from the prestigious University of Washington library science program launched her very successful career as librarian for Seattle Community College where she worked until her retirement.
In 2006 Mom and Dad decided that they were ready for a change of scenery from Seattle and would like to enjoy a warmer winter climate and in a location closer to their beloved Jamaica. Florida was the perfect answer to that quest. They settled down in the Orlando suburb of Ocoee and were very much enjoying life there. Sadly Dad passed away way too soon in 2008 and Mom became a widow. She always had a remarkable amount of energy and was able to live independently for a number of years after Dad’s passing. She was very active and well known for her impressive daily walking exercise program both in speed and distance that she had started decades before in Seattle and continued in Ocoee up until she was in her 90’s. She could walk almost effortlessly around Orlando’s Lake Eola as recently as age 96.
She very much enjoyed the love, fellowship and spiritual enrichment she received at her North Orlando SDA church and was very disappointed when she was no longer able to physically attend because of the coronavirus pandemic and then later because of the illness that would eventually take her life. Her faith in and love for Jesus remained strong and unwavering though even during the decline caused by her illness. Mom was a shining example of what a life consecrated to God and ministering to others could accomplish. We couldn’t even begin to describe in this limited amount of time and space the wonderful uplifting influence she had on so many and the tremendous legacy she leaves behind now that she is resting in the infinitely strong and loving arms of her Savior. . . resting until that soon coming glorious resurrection and joyous reunion morning when He will wake her up and take her to be with Him forevermore. Oh how she longed throughout her life to know Him more and more and to see Him when He comes to take His children home. She fell asleep in Jesus Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at the age of 100 and with the blessed hope burning in her heart of His magnificent soon coming and the joyful resurrection of all the sleeping redeemed giving her a sweet peace that passes all understanding.
One of her most cherished and comforting Bible promises especially during her illness was 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
Mom is survived by: 3 sons Michael, Byron and Paul; 3 grandchildren Andrew Mitchell, Miles Mitchell and Benjamin Mitchell; 1 still almost brand new great grandchild Jeremy Mitchell; her much beloved dear sister Emma Newman (Aunt Girlie); a few dear cousins and numerous truly wonderful nieces and nephews.
Mom, we love you so much and are going to sorely miss you. You were an unending source of love, compassion, support and inspiration to each one of us all throughout our lives. Thank you for introducing us to Jesus from our childhood and setting a most wonderful example for us of how to live as Jesus wants and will enable us to. We celebrate your life that was so extraordinarily well lived and we most eagerly await being reunited with you in that glorious resurrection morning when there will never again be pain, suffering, grieving or parting from one another. Safely rest in Jesus until then dear Mom.
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