Sarah Jane Smith Mitchell

Sarah Jane Mitchell, age 92, entered into eternal rest on March 5, 2023 at AuthoraCare Hospice Home, after an extended illness. She was the devoted mother of three boys, Bill, Gary, and David, and the dearly loved wife of William Mitchell, Jr.

Mrs. Mitchell was born in Forsyth County, NC, on February 10, 1931 to Henry Grady and Sylvia Lemons Smith, and later moved with her parents and brother, Don, to Burlington, NC, where she attended Burlington High School from 1946-1949. As a sixteen year-old sophomore, she caught the attention of senior Bill Mitchell, who invited her to church, beginning a seventy-five year-long relationship of friendship, courtship and marriage.

After Bill and Jane were married in 1950, Jane worked as secretary at radio station WBAG in Burlington for two years, after which she was able to commit herself full-time to being a homemaker, wife and mother extraordinaire. As Bill’s job responsibilities required him to travel more and more, and to relocate with the family multiple times around the country, Jane was always there, doing whatever needed to be done to care for her husband and boys.

Jane loved and supported her family, and it is a large one. She was preceded in death by her son, David Todd Mitchell, and her dear brother and friend, Donald Smith. She is survived by her husband, Bill, Jr., her son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Rena Mitchell of Hillsborough, her son and daughter-in-law Gary and Kitty Mitchell of Ocracoke, her sister-in-law Norma Loy of Burlington, her daughter-in-law Selina Covington of Kernersville, her grandchildren Justin Mitchell of Cary, Matthew Mitchell of Hillsborough, Barbara Rabon and Sara Daniels of Charleston, SC, Steven Mitchell and Amber Mitchell of Kernersville, and Katy Mitchell of Ocracoke. Jane is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 11, at 2:00pm at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel in Burlington. Visitation will be from 1:00-1:45pm. Flowers may be sent to the funeral home, or donations made in her honor to AuthoraCare Hospice, 914 Chapel Hill Rd, Burlington, NC 27215.