Edward Wayne Mitchell

Published 8:34 pm Friday, May 5, 2017

The Rev. Edward Wayne Mitchell, 66, passed away on Tuesday, May 2, at Maryview Hospital in Portsmouth. “Wayne,” as he was affectionately called by his family and close friends, was a native of Suffolk. He was the son of Edward Mitchell (deceased) and mother, Rosetta Woodley Mitchell.

Wayne is survived by his devoted wife, Crystal Mitchell; two daughters, Judy Jones (Mario), of Greenville, N.C., and Ja’Nae Mitchell, of Chester, Pa.; stepdaughters, Amanda Murdock Taylor, of Columbus, Ga., and Jessica Murdock, of Portsmouth; one stepson, James Whitehead, of Charleston, S.C.; his mother, Rosetta Woodley Mitchell, of Suffolk; one sister, Rose Mary Mitchell, of Greenbelt, Md. He has 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; one aunt, Shirley Winston, of Boston, Mass.; two uncles, Calvin Woodley, of Boston, Mass.; and a very special uncle, Thurman Lee Woodley, of Bogota, N.J., and a host of cousins and other relatives.

Wayne, an ordained minister at an early age, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from the University of Lynchburg. He was an assistant minister at Galatians United Church of Christ. He was president of the Saratoga Civic League up to the time his health started failing him.

Email newsletter signup

Viewing will take place on Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. at Harris Funeral Home, and homegoing services will take place at Faith Temple Church, 476 Wellons St., Suffolk, at 11 a.m., Monday, May 8, 2017. Burial will be in Holly Lawn Cemetery. You may send condolences to the family at www.vharrisfuneralhome.com. Harris Funeral Home has been entrusted with the home going service.