WALTERBORO: Delores Ann Woodard Mitchell, wife of the late James Whaley Mitchell, affectionately known to her family and friends as Doie, passed away peacefully at Kempton of Charleston on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. She was 88. Doie was born in Texarkana, Texas on August 17, 1935 to Grace Shaw Woodard and Boyce Newman Woodard. She graduated from North Texas State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She then taught third grade in Port Arthur, Texas where she met her husband James. In 1959 they moved to Walterboro to run the family business, Mitchell Construction, where they remained and raised their two children. Doie was primarily a homemaker, but at times was a substitute teacher and secretary at the business. She devoted her life to taking care of her family and cherished every moment with them. Doie was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church where she taught the five year old Sunday School class for years, was a circle member, was on the Board of Trustees, served on the bereavement meal committee, and was an MYF leader with her husband James when they first married. Doie was a member of the Walterboro Book Club, the Literary Club, and she delivered food with Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed playing tennis, going to Edisto Beach, supporting the Clemson Tigers, and spending time with her friends, children, and especially her grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Jimmy Mitchell. She leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law Grace Ann and Carl Brown of Walterboro, her three grandchildren, Jim Brown of Nashville, Mary Hunter Stoddard and her husband Clayton of Walterboro, and West Brown of Walterboro. She is survived by her great-granddaughter Anne Whaley Stoddard, two nieces and four nephews. Doie was very fortunate to have many wonderful caregivers in Walterboro and Charleston whom she loved dearly: All the staff at Heartland Hospice and Kempton of Charleston, Joyce Collins, Janie Badger, Bernice Perry, Connie Johnson, Dorothy Taylor, Blytha Mae Sanders, and Beth Glover. Funeral services will be held Friday morning, July 19, 2024 at 11:00 at Bethel United Methodist Church, with burial following in the Live Oak Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the church sanctuary beginning at 10:00, and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either Bethel United Methodist Church, 355 Hampton Street, Walterboro, SC 29488, or to Epworth Children’s Home, P.O.B. 50466, Columbia, SC 29250. Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, 117 Paul Street in Walterboro is in charge of arrangements.
