July 7, 2011

On Monday, July 7, 2011, the angels descended from heaven and Lessie Boone Mizelle of 610 Harrison St., Suffolk, Va., departed the flesh and transitioned to her eternal home in glory. She was the youngest of three children, born Sept. 23, 1957, to the late Alonza Sr. and Marie Franklin Boone. She is predeceased by a brother, Alonza Boone Jr. She was a 1975 graduate of John F. Kennedy High School, Suffolk, and she loved the Lord from her youth. She was founder and pastor of Revelation AME Zion Church and also was an active longtime member of St. Mark AME Zion Church where she served faithfully in the positions of associate minister, the first president of the Women’s Ministry, president of the Deaconess Board and the church financial secretary. She was also a member of Westside Civic League.

Lessie spent her early years as chef for both Copeland’s Drive In and the Dining Room restaurants. She gave up that career to further her education at University of Lynchburg and Paul D. Camp Community College. She was also previously employed at Ciba.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She leaves to cherish her memory, a husband of 27 years, Michael Mizelle Sr.; a daughter, Leslie A. Mizelle, of Suffolk; two sons, Michael Mizelle Jr. and Anthony “Tony” Boone (Zakilya); sister, Pinky Boone, of Portsmouth; four grandchildren, Travon Pittman, Quashaun and Quanisha Bailey, and Zyajah Boone; one uncle, Roosevelt Franklin, of Suffolk; two brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law; other relatives and many friends.

A homegoing celebration will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2011, at 1 p.m. at St. Mark AME Zion Church, 817 McKinley Ave., Suffolk, officiated by the Rev. Wilmer Williams. The Rev. Felecia Johnson will deliver the eulogy. Interment will be in Nansemond-Suffolk Cemetery. The family will receive friends at 610 Harrison St., Suffolk. Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.crockerfuneralhome.com.