Cecilia Mitchell, 1951-2015, !Presente!
(APN) ATLANTA — Cecilia Florence “Ceci” Mitchell, 63, passed away on April 26, 2015. Mitchell was known in Atlanta as a passionate advocate, working on such issues as equality, peace, and environmental justice.
This is a belated obituary because Atlanta Progressive News only recently learned of her passing when a letter to her home from APN was returned from her sister, who is the executor of Mitchell’s estate.
Mitchell was known for her involvement in Atlanta Women’s Union, a socialist-feminist group; and as a member of the Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance (known as the “ALFA Dykes”).
She also co-founded Lucina’s Music in 1977, which brought openly lesbian performers to Atlanta for over ten years.
“Ceci was a dear friend from our days in anti-war and anti-imperialist social justice circles back in the early 70s. It always amazed me that she could work against the evils of some governmental actions, but still remain kind, compassionate, and with a smile on her face for those who needed an uplift,” Lorraine Fontana told APN.
Mitchell was part of Stop the Road fight in the 1980s, to keep a proposed freeway from destroying communities in Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighborhood.
Mitchell loved being in nature, and was an avid bird watcher; in addition to enjoying hiking, kayaking, and many other outdoor activities.
A Michigan native, Mitchell came to Atlanta in the mid-1970s and made it her home.
She received two Master’s degrees, one in Counseling and the other in Public Relations, from Georgia State University.
Mitchell worked as a therapist in private practice at Karuna Counseling, and eventually joined the staff at Grady Hospital in 2002.
She also did media campaign work for US Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), and won recognition from the Georgia Press Association when she worked briefly as a journalist.
In 2013, Mitchell travelled to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington.
Mitchell was also an avid reader of, and frequent donor to, Atlanta Progressive News.
Ceci is survived by her mother, Clara; five siblings; two sister-in-laws; seven nieces and three nephews; and many great nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles, according to an obituary that ran in the the Flint Journal (Michigan).
Atlanta Progressive News is honored to remember a long time supporter and community activist, on the occasion of her recent 64th birthday, which occurred on November 10, 2015.
A Celebration of Life memorial service was held for Mitchell on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at the First Existential Congregation of Atlanta, 470 Candler Park Drive, Atlanta 30307.
(END/2015)