Katherine E. Mitchell was born on December 6, 1913 in Kewanee, Illinois. She was adopted as a newborn, by Janet and Ethel Watts.  She had one step-brother, Sylvester Steen.

She came to Benton Harbor at an early age and attended school in the Benton Harbor area.  She met and married the love of her life, Don P. Mitchell.

They were married 68 years before his passing.  From this union eight children were born, Janice, Diane, Dwight (Pete), Gary, Duane, Don, Kathleen and Steve.

Katherine has been involved in education much of her life.  After raising her eight children and completing high school via night school, in 1968, she graduated from Lake Michigan College in 1969 and from Western Michigan University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies 1974.  She worked for the Twin Cities A Child Care Center from 1969-1971 and as an aide in the Benton Harbor Area School District from 1973-1974.  In 1974 she was employed as an elementary school teacher, retiring in 1982.

Active in both church and civic organizations, she taught various church groups, volunteered at the Benton Harbor Library, was the 1969 “Michigan Mother of the Year” runner-up.  She was always active in her children’s education, serving as room mother, and vice president of the PTA.  She received the Michigan Outstanding Citizenship Award, and was the Detroit Free Press Nominee for “Michigan Classics”.  1995 she received an “Appreciation Award of Community Betterment” during the African American Black History Month.  She received the “Alumni Service Award” in 1996 from Lake Michigan College.  She was able to read one of the many poems she wrote at the opening ceremony of the Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College along with her LMC English Professor, the late Gwendolyn Niles.

She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She always encouraged her children to get a higher education and make a difference in someone’s life.

She passed away January 18, 2008 in St. Joseph, Michigan.  She was preceded in death by her Husband, Don P. Mitchell and her son Gary D. Mitchell