Carl Edward Mitchell

June 4, 1935 – October 6, 2025

Dr. Carl Edward Mitchell, age 90, died October 6, 2025, of a good long life.

He and Mona Hinson Mitchell, wife and friend for 65 years, had three children: Steve, Scott

and Kristin of Nashville. He was preceded in death by his son, Scott Presley Mitchell.

Carl is the favorite brother of Carol Aileen Rehder of Nashville, and Barbara Jean Anthony of

Alexandria, LA. Grandchildren are King Henderson and Cooper Viars. First cousins Sam

Mitchell, John Mitchell and Mary Jo Presley Adkins.

He was the first child of Clyde “Musty” Mitchell and Aileen Presley Mitchell Claypool, born in

Carbondale, Illinois, on June 4, 1935, raised in West Frankfort and Herrin, IL, coal mining

towns of caring families, good schools and churches providing abundant play. There he was

an athlete and began a life-long love of the out of doors.

His father, Clyde, was an athlete, talented moral businessman, champion of all children, a

reconciling political civic church activist and integrator of schools. His mother, Aileen, was a

teacher, promoter of an accepting, affirming religion, accomplished musician whose best song

was her laughter.

Mona and Carl met in 1960 in the Heart Clinic at Barnes Hospital, St. Louis. Their life together

has been the center of each of their journeys as they worked together raising a family and

caring for their medical practice with special fun on their farm, gardening, Center Hill Lake,

Hutchinson Island, FL, books, her culinary talent and dancing.

Carl had an excellent college experience (10 years) at Washington University (St. Louis). He

was in honorary societies four years, President of the Junior Honorary, putting on a

community carnival, and as a Senior, Carl was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) and

was a Rhodes Scholar semi-finalist. Additionally, Carl was Chairman of the National Student

YMCA (the ecumenical program of the Student Christian Movement), advocated for the

integration of churches and student housing, advocated for the feminist movement and raised

awareness of poverty abatement options.

Carl graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in 1961 and finished his MD

Internal Medicine residencies at Vanderbilt University, entering private practice in 1966 in

Nashville. He enjoyed teaching clinical medicine for Vandy and UT for 25 years as Assistant

Clinical Professor, was active in medical affairs at Baptist Hospital including Chief of Internal

Medicine and Baptist Healthcare Group, numerous committees for the Nashville Academy of

Medicine, delegate to Tennessee Medical Association and President of the Middle Tennessee

Medical Association. Carl was founding Chairman of the non-profit The Healing Trust, which

provided training to professional care givers and clergy about recognizing and caring for those

affected by abuse.

Carl had many serious interests (fun is serious business too): The farm, Center Hill Lake

(Four Seasons), water and social gatherings, hiking, hunting and fishing, evolutionary biology,

non-religious spiritual living, reading, writing, recovery of addicts, help to adults suffering from

childhood deprivation and abuse, non-violent approaches to conflict, genealogy, golf for fun,

dancing, beneficiary of being with Mona, friends at Ocean Village, Hutchinson Island, FL.

Missed will be Mona, family, friends and of course: woods and hikes, dogs and other critters,

dirt and growing things, reading and writing, wondering about the future of climate change and

evolution.

Carl will be profoundly missed — by Mona, his family, and all who were blessed to know him.

His quiet strength, compassion, and unwavering devotion to healing and understanding

touched countless lives. The community he loved and served is better because of his

kindness, his integrity, and his belief in the goodness of people. His spirit endures in the

hearts of those he taught, healed, and loved — and in the living legacy of family, friendship,

and service he leaves behind.

Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery on Monday October 20th at 1 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be

held on Tuesday, October 21st, at Woodmont Christian Church. Visitation will take place from

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with services beginning at 12:00 p.m. in the main chapel.

Flowers are beautiful and romantic, though not precious to Carl E. Mitchell. Donations may

instead be made to a cause worthwhile — one that uplifts, heals, and serves others in the

spirit of his life’s work.

Memorial contributions may be made to:

l Tennessee Medical Foundation — 5141 Virginia Way, Suite 110, Brentwood, TN

37027

l Vanderbilt University School of Medicine — 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 900,

Nashville, TN 37203 (Attention: Gifts and Donation Services)

l Washington University School of Medicine — 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

l National Public Radio (NPR) — 630 Mainstream Dr., Nashville, TN 37228