On Tuesday November 10, 2020, Nettie Berniece Bates-Mitchell, a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and confidant to all who knew her, passed away at the age of 85, at Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, KS. This extraordinary woman was born on October 21, 1935 in Leavenworth, KS, to the union of Albert Bates Winston and Evelyn Patterson and was the eldest of her siblings. She graduated from Leavenworth High School and later worked as a Team Assembler for Hallmark Cards, a Census Taker for the United States Census Bureau, a Nurse’s Assistant for the Veteran’s Administration and Cushing Hospital, and as a Cashier at the Fort Leavenworth Post Exchange. In 1954 she married Harvey O. Mitchell, a serviceman in the United States Army and traveled numerous places across the country with him and their five children, before settling in her hometown of Leavenworth. However, for many years thereafter, she continued to travel throughout the United States and twice to Germany to visit family and friends. She was lifetime member of Sunflower Missionary Baptist Church, and in her own words she wrote, “My journey with Sunflower Baptist Church began as a babe in my mother’s arms.” As a member she served as a Post Delegate, on the Missionary Committee, and the Mother’s Board. She spoke fondly of attending and being involved in various church services and activities throughout her lifetime. She was a strong woman of faith and committed to the service of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her great reward from Him for her faithful and selfless service is clearly identified in the Book of Matthew, Chapter 25, Verses 31-40, where it is written, 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' She was the family matriarch for two decades and her maternal love, wisdom, support, charity, encouragement, guidance, and even tough love, when needed, is a great loss to her entire family, as well as many other children and adults from the community that she has helped rear over the years. She cherished every photo, gift, card, and note she received. Many of the notes, bible scriptures, and plaques of encouraging words she received could be seen posted on every wall of her home She never forgot a friend or family member’s special occasion or birthday, always sending heartfelt cards, mailing handwritten letters, offering meaningful gifts, or calling to speak kind words or personally sing happy birthday to you. She enjoyed cooking, baking, listening to soulful and gospel music, traveling, bowling, crocheting, photography, collecting owls, completing crossword puzzles, and hosting picnics, holiday events, and birthday parties. She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter, Berniece Runnels, son, Dwayne Mitchell, parents, step-parents, Curby Rogers and Laura Mae Winston, granddaughters, Anzerita Bigby and Paulicia Carrell, siblings, Mildred Saulter, Alberta Kennedy, Vera Hildebrandt, Regina King, Orlo "Bud" Allen, Alfred Bates, Albert Bates, Katherine Winston, James Winston, Charlotte Moulden. She is survived by her children, Edward Mitchell, Lisa Mitchell, and Charles Mitchell, grandchildren, Roman Williams, Marcus Jones, Cameron Richards, Charise Rogers, Tina Johnson, Walter Bethea, and Roslynn Bethea, 24 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren, siblings, Curby Rogers, Adrian Rogers, Floyd Harris, Joseph Winston, Laura Solombrino, and Helen Brockenbrough, her eldest first cousin, Almeta Mantley, as well as a host of other family members and friends to cherish her memories. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Leavenworth National Cemetery.