Mary Elizabeth “Mary Beth” (MB) Mizell passed away on February 14, 2025, at the age of 55, leaving behind a legacy of love, learning, and adventure. A longtime resident of Niceville, Florida, Mary Beth touched countless lives through her dedication to education, her passion for family, and her boundless enthusiasm for exploring the world around her.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mary Beth grew up in nearby Metairie. She graduated from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in 1987 before earning her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Mississippi University for Women in 1992 and her Master of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Kentucky in 1994. With a lifelong love for learning, she dedicated her career to teaching and mentorship, serving Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) for over two decades. Whether as an adjunct math instructor, a loyal staff member in the Testing Center, Career Services, and Student Success Navigation, or later as a Curriculum Coordinator and member of the Mathematics Faculty at the NWFSC Collegiate High School, Mary Beth poured her heart into helping students succeed.

Outside the classroom, Mary Beth embraced life with energy and joy. Throughout her family’s 25 years in Florida, she planned and enjoyed dozens of trips to Walt Disney World with her husband and daughter. She was an avid runner, enthusiastically participating in local 5K and 10K races and proudly completing a half-marathon in 2013. She and her family spent countless weekends hiking and biking through Florida’s state parks, taking in the beauty of the Emerald Coast. She also had a gift for bringing people together, ensuring that family bonds remained strong across the miles by planning reunions, trips, and get-togethers filled with laughter and love.

Mary Beth is survived by Chris Mizell, her devoted husband of 31 years and Hannah Mizell, their beloved daughter, along with Mary Beth’s sister, Jo Ann Toups, and brother, Roger Falcon. She was preceded in death by her adoptive parents, Mary Jane and Larry Falcon. Among those who will miss her dearly is the four-legged Argo, her fiercely loyal companion since his adoption as a puppy from Alaqua Animal Refuge in 2016.

A celebration of Mary Beth’s life will be held at Heritage Gardens Funeral Home in Niceville, Florida, on February 28, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. and a service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Flowers are welcome, or for those who wish to honor her love for animals (Argo in particular), donations may be made in her memory to Alaqua Animal Refuge (https://alaqua.org/).

Mary Beth lived fully, loved deeply, and left the world better than she found it. She will be remembered for her kindness, her brilliance, and the unwavering dedication she showed to her students, family, and friends.