James Gregory Mitchell, aka "Fuzz", peacefully transitioned into eternal rest on Sunday, August 27, 2017. He was born to the late Maxine (West) and James Bentley Mitchell on February 16, 1951.

James attended Cape Charles Combined School and Northampton County Public Schools graduating from Northampton County High in 1969 where he played football and excelled at basketball. After graduation from County High he left the area and went to Long Island, New York where he spent most summers with his Aunt Mabel and her husband Johnny. In 1969, James enrolled in Saint Paul University on a basketball scholarship and attended Saint Paul for two years.

James married Lotheal Mitchell on July 10, 1972 and to this union was born three daughters, Tiffany, Rasheeda and Jammie. He worked as an alternative education teacher in the Northampton County Public School system and coached youth basketball for a time.

James was an intellectual! He was an avid reader and had an extensive personal library covering many subjects and topics from religion, philosophy (gaining him the nickname "The Philosopher"), race relations, [Grab your reader's attention with a great quote from the document or use this space to emphasize a key point. To place this text box anywhere on the page, just drag it.] culture, history and politics - - if you asked him a question, he had a lengthy answer and a reference for you to seek additional information. He was also a Jazz buff, filling the 500 block of Jefferson Avenue and the surrounding area with the sounds of Coltrane, Kenny G and many others. At a very early age, his firstborn, Tiffany listened to jazz with her father and like some folk memorized the lyrics in a song, Tiff knew the instruments and the sounds they made. As a friend so succinctly described him, James was a "truth seeker" and his far-reaching search led him on a journey that led back to the beginning - Christ.

James "Fuzz" Mitchell leaves to mourn his passing and to remember his life, daughters Tiffany Mitchell-Ross (Freddie) of Norfolk, VA; Rasheeda Kammillia Mitchell of Charlotte, North Carolina; Jammie Mitchell-Marciano (Edwin) of Richmond, VA; Kiniya Chantera Church, Portsmouth, Virginia; Akiya L'Darian and Dion Gregory Church both of Machipongo, VA; grandchildren, god-daughter Wanda Batten of Clearwater, Florida; long-time companion Alvanette Mendoza-Pulley who expresses her gratitude for the many years of friendship and kindness that was shown to her and a host of extended relatives and friends.