Prentiss Raiford Mitchell
February 17,1934 – June 23, 2025
Prentiss R. Mitchell, of Tallahassee, FL, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2025. Memorial services are at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Cairo First Methodist Church, Cairo, GA. Dr. Edward S. Lyon will officiate. Military honors will be presented at the church. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.
Prentiss was born February 17, 1934, in Meadville, Mississippi. He graduated from Central High School, Jackson, Mississippi in 1953. He immediately enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp serving from 1953 to 1955. He attended the University of Mississippi and graduated in 1958 with a degree in business. Prentiss worked for Allstate Insurance Company in various positions, relocating to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1969.
In 1975, he moved to Tallahassee and started Mitchell & Associates to Lobby for Allstate, the Association of Independent Insurers, the Florida Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association and other governmental entities.
After retiring, Prentiss and Patricia purchased a small farm and relocated to Cairo, GA. Prentiss tried his hand at growing blueberries, but the blueberry farm did not work out as planned. He did continue to enjoy growing his garden and sharing with the community. During a Friday lunch, where local politics was the subject of discussion, Prentiss quickly decided he was much more interested in politics than growing blueberries. He enjoyed helping local and state candidates manage their political campaigns.
Community involvement was important to him. He served on the Board of Boys Town of North Florida, Fund Raising Chair for Grady County Habitat for Humanity, and the Grady County Board of Tax Assessors. He was a member of the First Methodist Church of Cairo, where he participated in the Methodist Men’s Ministry and was a member of the Burleigh Law Sunday School Class.
He loved his family, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren were the light of his life! His favorite time with family was summer visits in Ohio that included Fourth of July fireworks over the lake.
Prentiss is survived by his wife, Patricia Rackley Mitchell, Tallahassee, FL, Martha Vance Mitchell, the Mother of his children, Tallahassee, FL, Daughter, Marcy Swihart (Dave) London, Ohio; Granddaughter, Kristan Levy (Paul) Dayton, Ohio, Grandson, Mitchell Swihart, Columbus, Ohio; Great Grandchildren, Courtney, Caroline, Ellie and Arthur, Dayton, Ohio, Sister, Louise Bethay of Flowery Branch, GA, a dear cousin, Liz Jones (David) of Melbourne Beach, Florida and their daughter Sarah Jones, New York City along with a host of nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Mary Lee and Hoy Mitchell, two sons, (Prentiss R. Mitchell, Jr., and Michael Hoy Mitchell); sisters (Mary Helen Baker, Stella Fuller and Dot Foster) and brother (Clarence Morrell Smith).
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mr. Mitchell’s memory to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32308 or Cairo First Methodist Church, 318 South Broad Street, Cairo, GA 39828.
