Dorsey Mitchell

My dad always said, “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed.” So here is the story of Dorsey Lee Mitchell, Jr; Get ready to eat. Dorsey was a Kansas City native born on May 18,1959 to Betty Lou and Dorsey Mitchell Sr.

He began his journey of knowledge at Faxon Elementary School, right here in Kansas City, Missouri. This is where he blew the minds of his teachers. Dorsey could count to one hundred (100) before he even started school! From First to sixth (1st - 6th) grade he attended Melcher Elementary. He then began school at Martin Luther King from seventh to eighth (7th - 8th) grade, which brought middle school to an end for Dorsey. Hello high school! He went to East and eventually finished this phase of life out at Central High School. After joining the army in 1979 he went to the skill center. This is where he learned automotive/collision repair and HVAC. He later on earned his stationary engineering license while working at Westport.

As a young child, Dorsey took off as an entrepreneur. He would cut grass, collect pop bottles from his neighbors to get the deposit at the store, and catch frogs with his brother Dennis, to sell at the bait shop. As a teenager, he took the leading role as the man of the house while his parents were at work. He would cook (one his true passions in life) and help with household chores. According to my father, he was, “The Boss.”

Dorsey joined Bethel Baptist Church and was involved in various activities there such as Sunday school and singing in the choir. Unfortunately, he left the church as most young people do, but God wasn’t done with him just yet. After coming home from the army, he went to the Kansas City Skill Center. That is where he met his beloved wife to be, Ella Pendleton. During this time, Dorsey was living with his grandmother (Eunice Mitchell). He was a great help to her, contributing everything that he possibly could to the household. This same mentality traveled into his own home as well. After leaving the skill center, he went to work for Scott Barrel from 1981 - 1988.

On October 5, 1984; Dorsey and Ella got married. This was the beginning of what eventually led to six children, one granddaughter and one soon to be grandson.

In 1988, Dorsey decided to work for the Kansas City School District as a custodian for a second time. After obtaining his stationary engineering license, he left the school district and found employment at Kemper Arena/Bartle Hall until 2009. That same year, he began attending New Jerusalem COGIC under the leadership of Elder Chester Gray. From time to time, he would help with the maintenance of the church.

Dorsey was a modern renaissance man, learning as much as he possibly could. His hobbies included playing basketball (East & Central high school), cooking, barbecuing (two-time award-winning smoker at the KCCEC cook-off), fishing, and gardening. He became fascinated with fixing cars, doing his daughter's hair and everything else that he could possibly do to keep the household running smoothly.

In 2005, he began to visit and eventually regularly attended Holy Deliverance COGIC. He struggled with his faith and his attendance in church started to reflect that, but God still wasn’t done with Dorsey Lee Mitchell. In May of 2020, he started to reunite with the saints. He would go out with the church and hold up signs that advertised the power of salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior. He participated on the prayer line, in scripture showers, visited on zoom for Sunday school/ Service, and bible study. Months before Holy Deliverance opened the church doors again; Dorsey promised the pastor that as soon as the church opened, he’d be there, and he was. He had kept his promise and he attended church the next Sunday as well. The third Sunday, he wanted to attend but didn’t due to sickness. By the next Sunday; God had taken him home.

Dorsey was a people person, always making friends and keeping in touch with them. He will truly be missed and always loved by his wife, children, family, and friends. He passed away on March 27, 2021.  He was preceded in death by his sister: Denise Mitchell in 1972; and his father: Dorsey Sr on January 1, 2021.

He leaves behind his beloved mother: Betty Lou Mitchell; and his loving wife: Ella Pendleton-Mitchell; sons: Dorsey Steven Mitchell, Dominique Rashad Mitchell, Andrew Lavell Mitchell (Shampayne);  daughters: Marcella Mo’nique Mitchell (Omar), Beatrice Catherine Mitchell, Miranda Tranise Mitchell; one granddaughter; Elizabeth Nissi Mitchell to mourn over him; brothers: Dennis Mitchell and Mark Mitchell; sisters; Doris Mitchell and Terry Mitchell; uncles: Joe (Beatrice) Mitchell, James Mitchell, Charles Mitchell, J.T Mitchell; aunts: Gladys Quinn, Elois Hawkins, and Eddie May Booker, all of Kansas City, MO.

Near the end of Dorsey Lee Mitchell, Jr’s life he made many drastic changes. One of the bigger ones was changes to his faith. He was fighting the war between good and evil, saved, and unsaved, and heaven and hell...Dorsey won! He made it y’all! He made it! However, now is the time to discern ourselves, because even though Dorsey is gone, we are still here and fighting the good fight. Now is the time to make your choice, what will you choose?