Sammie Lou Mitchell

Born December 5, 1937, in Houston, Texas, Sammie was the daughter of the late Sam Virgil Smith and the late Louise Maude Meeker Smith.

Sammie graduated from Reagan High School (formerly and currently Heights High School) in Houston, Texas. She worked in accounts payable and receivable for many years, continuing to work until she was almost 85. A lifelong Houstonian, she spent nearly her entire life in Houston before moving to the country in November 2024 to be near her daughter, Sheryl.

When she was younger, Sammie enjoyed taking painting classes with family members. She created several oil paintings that her family continues to cherish. She also crocheted and cross-stitched from time to time, keeping her hands and mind busy. Although cooking was part of her everyday life, she especially loved making sweet treats to share with family, friends, coworkers, and visitors. She enjoyed working on jigsaw puzzles, particularly with her great-grandchildren. Her love of puzzles was also shared with her twin sister, Sandra. They enjoyed texting each other photos of their completed puzzles, with Sammie occasionally fudging the story of who had finished hers.

Sammie was truly one of a kind. To say she was kind is an understatement. She had a wonderfully tender heart and was beloved by everyone who knew her. She was known for her quiet warmth, generosity, and the genuine affection she showed to those around her. She joked with family that Sandra was “the nice one,” though anyone who knew Sammie knew just how much kindness she had to give. As she got older, she shared more of her wonderful sense of humor, bringing even more joy to those around her. Her gentle spirit and the relationships she built extended far beyond her immediate family, and she remained deeply loved by family and friends through all of life’s changes.

Sammie is survived by her daughter, Sheryl Borski, and her husband, Gary. She was preceded in death by her two sons, Alexander (Trey) William Mitchell III and Todd Blake Mitchell.

She will be lovingly remembered as Grammy by her six grandchildren: Lindsey Marie Updegraff and her husband, Andrew; Matthew Steven Mitchell and his wife, Abby; Jillian Rae Ruby and her husband, Jd; Andrew Wyatt Mitchell; Joshua David Mitchell; and Abigail Louise Gonzalez and her husband, Sam.

She will hold a special place in the hearts of her four great-grandchildren: Andrew David Updegraff Jr., Liliana Marie Updegraff, Kolbi Rae Ruby, and Maeve Jolene Mitchell.

She is also survived by her twin sister, Sandra Lee Prater. The two had a special bond. They called each other nearly every morning at 10 a.m. and shared a love of family, food, and puzzles.

And she leaves behind her nephew, Kelly Prater, and his wife, Nell; her nephew, Dee Strickland, and his wife, Cindy, along with Dee’s children, TD and Tyler; her niece, Maria McGlone, and her husband, Howie; and her niece, Katrina (Kathy) Slaid-Kitchener, and her husband, Tony, along with Kathy’s children, Cullen and Ryan Slaid.

Sammie was also preceded in death by her parents, Sam Virgil Smith and Louise Maude Meeker Smith; her brother-in-law, Eugene Preston Prater Sr.; and her nephew, Gene Prater.

A graveside service will be held at Hollywood Cemetery on Monday, November 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Sammie’s honor to Hospice Brazos Valley (Donate) or the American Cancer Society (Donate).