Nellie Mitchell

Nellie Mitchell, deaconess, moved to Brooks Howell from Spencer, West Virginia, where she had lived and cared for her sister until her death. Nellie was born in Spencer in 1908. She grew up in a Christian home and at age eleven surrendered her life to Christ. She knew from childhood that she wanted to do something in the church. One brother was a minister and attended Garrett Biblical Institute. Nellie attended North Central College. While there she contacted the Deaconess Office in Chicago about being a deaconess. During her senior year she took a job in Chicago, and finished her AB degree later at Morris Harvey, now Charleston University.

Her first appointment was to Halsted Institutional Church in Chicago. In 1935 she was appointed to district work in Portland, Oregon. She served several churches. Nellie was consecrated on June 26, 1935 by Bishop Titus. In 1939 she went to Baltimore, again to be a district worker in several churches. She was appointed next to Logan City in the West Virginia coal fields. A Wesley House was there and she liked her work very much. Family illness called her home to Spencer. Here, she opened a kindergarten. This was her appointment for sixteen years, while she continued to care for ill ones at home. Some of her former kindergarteners are now the town’s leaders, and remember her with gratitude. Most important to her has been that God has used her to influence many people for good. She quoted Corrie ten Boom, who said, “God can use a crooked stick to hit a hard lick.” She is still receiving letters thanking her for helping many to find God. Nellie feels that our home is lovely, and she is glad for the people here. Her one regret is that her arthritis is so painful that it prevents her enjoyment of life now.

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