On January 12, 2025, Jerry Wayne Mitchell, age 55, went home to be with the Lord. He died in the Tennessee residence he shared with his wife.
Jerry was born November 6, 1969 in Fayetteville, Tennessee, the son of the late Jerry Lee Mitchell and Fannie Lou (Cowan) Mitchell. As a child, he moved with his family to Tecumseh, Michigan. As a young teen he and his wife first met at Trinity Baptist Church (Pastor Ed Lafferty) in Adrian, Michigan. They were one another’s first love. It was some 36 years later they reconnected and the love they once shared was rekindled as if it never stopped. They were married on August 15, 2020 by the same pastor (Lisa’s Uncle). The ceremony took place in Elizabethtown, Illinois at Pastor Ed’s church. This was a story he loved to tell everyone and his eagerness to tell this story was beyond heartwarming to his wife.
Jerry was most excited when his daughter and grandchildren visited. After his last heart attack he wanted more than anything to give them a vacation with Papa they would never forget. So he and his wife planned a trip packed with activities (waterpark, drive thru safari zoo, splash pads, pools). We had water balloon fights and played games (Uno was the crowd favorite). Everytime Jerry spoke of this trip, you couldnt stop that smile on his face. Ericka, Jonny, Alexis, and Paisley meant the world to him.
Besides his wife and family, Jerry loved hunting, fishing, and his Harley Davidson. He had a special fishing spot on Birdsong Road where he loved to fish. He also enjoyed taking the grandkids fishing and swimming at Eva Beach, Tennessee. He loved hunting with his best friend, Charlie Paine, but when he came to Tennessee, the only shooting of deer he did was with his camera. The seven deer that often visited the back yard were his favorite to photogragh. It was a daily highlight to him to sit and watch this group of deer. His other joy was all the turtles that came up from the Tennessee River to lay eggs in the yard. He would always get the turtles out of the road to safety, even if it meant pulling the car over to help them. His heart was far bigger than most were able to see.
Jerry spent over 35 years as an automotive body repair specialist/ manager. He repaired heavily damaged vehicles. He mainly did body repairs and painted, but was capable of building a car from scratch. He could do anything to an engine or transmission. He really was a mechanical genius.
Jerry is survived by his wife of almost 5 years Lisa Dawn (Lolley) Mitchell of Camden Tennessee. One sister Joyce Mitchell Crawford and her two children Mark and Geoffrey of Adrian, Michigan; one daughter daddy‘s baby Ericka Mitchell of Adrian, Michigan and her three children the absolute joys of his life, Jonathan (Jonny) Mitchell, Alexis (Lexi) Randolph, and Paisley (pay pay) Randolph; and one son Jeremy Mitchell who is the true image of his father. There will not be a service as Jerry never wanted a funeral. His wishes were to be cremated and his ashes scattered. His wife will take the ashes to their Pastor to pray over and bless them. At this point, most of his ashes will be scattered by his wife, daughter, and best friend Charlie Paine of Tecumseh, Michigan. At a later date after some much needed healing, we will hold a remembrance gathering in Michigan for close friends and family. His wife and daughter would very much like it if you could share a favorite memory you shared with Jerry. And please never stop speaking his name, let us forever keep his memory alive.