Obituary: Rev. John Allen Mitchell, Jr.

John Allen Mitchell, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on December 20, 2023, after a long battle with Parkinson’s. He fought the disease for close to a decade and just recently celebrated his 80th birthday. 
 
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Martha Bowman United Methodist Church in Macon, GA. Reverend Mark Magoni and Dr. Matthew Stewart will officiate the service. The family will greet friends for an hour of visitation in the Damascus Hall prior to the service. 
 
John was born on November 12, 1943, in Fitzgerald, GA, to the late John Allen Mitchell, Sr. and Alma May Hall Mitchell. He received his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. He began his career as a CPA in Augusta where he met his devoted wife Lynne, with whom he shared 51 years of loving marriage. They relocated to Macon and built a life filled with love, joy and countless memories. He received a Masters of Business from Georgia College University while maintaining his accounting practice. They have three beautiful children: Melissa Rivers of Sydney, Australia (married to Eric), Jennifer Mitchell Boggs of Macon and Sean Mitchell of Atlanta.  He is also survived by five grandchildren: Oliver Rivers, Elliot Rivers, Alec Rivers, Abigail Boggs and Joshua Boggs. His family was a huge source of happiness and inspiration.
 
John had his own CPA firm for over 20 years when he answered the call from the Lord and decided to pursue a new path as a Methodist minister. He earned his Masters of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University while serving as an associate pastor at Martha Bowman United Methodist Church. His first appointment as a Senior Minister was at Jekyll Island UMC, followed by Midland UMC, St. Mary’s UMC and Wilmington Island UMC. After retirement he still faithfully served part-time at Sunshine and Haddock UMC. He was a man of Christ and lived this in the many congregations he served.
 
Beyond his professional endeavors, John had a diverse range of interests. He was a jack of all trades, mastering many skills, including a love of cooking, travel, painting, photography, wood-working and reading, to name a few. 
 
John touched the lives of many through his kindness, grace, and unwavering love. His memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
 
A private spreading of his ashes will take place in the Martha Bowman Prayer Garden to honor John’s wishes. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Martha Bowman United Methodist Church or to the Parkinson’s Foundation in honor of Revered John A. Mitchell, Jr.