Barbara Jane Mitchell

Barbara J. Mitchell of Flat Rock, died at home on July 29. She was born in Port Arthur Texas on Dec. 26 1936, the daughter of Eugene and Mertie (Marler) Johnson. She grew up in Nederland Texas and was a graduate of Nederland High School and Texas Womanís University. She married right after her college graduation and moved to Highland Park, N.J. She taught in the New Brunswick NJ High School for 3 years and moved to Manalapan, NJ to raise her children. In later years, she was a bookstore manager and managed the Manalapan Shopping Mall. Throughout the years, she enjoyed a variety of hobbies including painting and genealogical research which took her on several memorable trips through the southeast researching her family history. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Freehold, NJ and cherished the years spent in her Phoebe Circle.

She and her husband moved to Flat Rock, NC 13 years ago, where she built the home of her dreams, and she became active in the Joseph McDowell chapter of the DAR, serving as its Regent, the Asheville Chapter of the UDC and the Asheville Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century. She and her husband enjoyed attending concerts in Brevard and bringing family members to outdoor summer performances whenever possible.

She was a member of Hendersonvilleís First United Methodist Church.

She leaves her husband, William S. Mitchell, a son, Christopher Mitchell of Cary, Illinois, a daughter, Kathryn DiStasi and her husband John of Dunwoody GA, four granddaughters, Julia and Olivia Mitchell of Fox River Grove Illinois, and Victoria and Meredith DiStasi of Dunwoody GA. She also leaves a sister, Clytie Crawford and niece Jean Martin both of Kountze, Texas and a beloved cousin Delilah Gregory of Lumberton, Texas.