Cheryl Ophelia Mitchell

On Thursday, March 23, 2017, Cheryl Ophelia Miller Mitchell transitioned from this earthly realm to her heavenly home to reap the rewards of His promise. Cheryl was born on November 7, 1960 to Johnell Miller and Ethel Lee Barnes Miller. She was educated in the District of Columbia Public School System. She attended Simon Elementary, Hart Junior High, and Ballou High Schools. She was an extraordinary wife and mother. She met, fell in love with, and later married Terry Robert Mitchell on January 29, 1994. They were blessed with one daughter, Angela. Cheryl was determined to give Angela a good upbringing and a solid education. She made many sacrifices to make it happen. She enrolled her in a Christian school where Angela learned academically, but also learned the things of God. Cheryl dutifully cared for her husband during his illness and was a great help to her parents throughout the years. Cheryl was a faithful woman of God. Faithfulness, as we know, is a gift of the Holy Spirit and she exercised her gift without hesitation. She was reliable, steadfast, and unwavering in her dedication and service to her church. She first attended Freedom Chapel International Christian Center when she was five years old. She later joined the church and always worked tirelessly for the glorification of God. She served in many capacities, including singing in the choir and as church treasurer. When it came to working in her church, the word “no” was not in her vocabulary. Her final official act at Freedom Chapel was to give the benediction at a recent Sunday night service. She was also a mighty prayer warrior in her family’s prayer group that meets at Minister Reginald Ware’s house. Cheryl truly had a caregiver’s heart. It was apparent, early on, in the way she related to her “baby” sister and any other young persons in her charge. After high school, she delayed her entry into the workforce to care for her Grandma Sarah. So, it was no surprise to her family when she chose caregiving as a career. During her career, she cared for many clients. She loved them and they all loved her because she treated them more like family than clients. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents: Sarah Miller and Milton Peques; and her maternal grandparents: Clarence and Annie Barnes. She leaves to benefit from her legacy: her husband, Terry Mitchell; her daughter, Angela Callahan; her father, Johnell Miller; her mother, Ethel Miller; her sister, Judith Miller of Clinton, MD; her uncle, Freddie Barnes; her aunts; Ernestine Ware, Launice Owens, Elsie Barnes of Scotland Neck, NC; Streata Yarborough (Raymond) of Lanham, MD; Jeanette Miller; Diccie Jackson (Howard) of Washington, DC; Gladys Pegues-Edwards (Ed) of Clinton, MD; her brothers-in-law; Andre Mitchell, Cornell Mitchell, Gerald Pratt of Washington, DC and William Pratt of Trinidad; her sisters-in-law: Patricia Payne of NC; Michelle Mitchell and Laverne Whitaker of Washington, DC; Godchildren, Melette Mack; Sabrina Mason of Washington, DC; Nicole Ware of Fairfax, VA; Gabrille Mercado; Terrell Cole; Stephanie Wilkins of Woodbridge, VA; many cousins; other relatives; and friends. Cheryl’s family and friends will miss her in this earthly realm, but as believers, we know there is the promise of a sweet reunion in heaven that is everlasting. Thomas More said it best. “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Cheryl Ophelia Mitchell please visit our Sympathy Store.