Guthrie Schools holds memorial service for beloved teacher ‘Ms. Mitchell’

Guthrie Public Schools held a memorial service on Thursday evening to celebrate the life and teaching career of Ms. Charlotte Mitchell, who passed away last week. 

Ms. Mitchell taught sixth-grade social studies at Guthrie Upper Elementary School. She served in the district for 31 years, although she taught for a total of 37 years.

“She was my 6th-grade teacher. She was really kind, but I felt like we were more than just student and teacher. She kind of took me in as like her own a little bit,” said former student Nicki Bradley. 

Bradley explained that when she heard the news of Ms. Mitchell’s death, “I almost passed out. I'm not even being dramatic. I was so overwhelmed and sad because even after I graduated, I visit her a lot, so I was really sad.” 

With musical performances, prayer and a speech from her closest friend, many people cried in her absence. 

“She was one of the veterans obviously in the building, and so when things got challenging, the other staff — they looked to her because she had she been through it all,” said Superintendent of Guthrie Public Schools Dr. Mike Simpson. 

In a memorial near the lobby of Guthrie Upper Elementary School, students and staff left words, flowers and drawings to honor her memory. 

"We've taken a lot of those items and brought them to the family, so they have them. Then we came back and there was more there and so that just shows the number of lives that she touched in her career over many years,” shared Dr. Simpson. 

Public visitation for Ms. Mitchell will be held on Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Mt. Olive Friendship Baptist Church in Guthrie. Her funeral will also be held at the church, on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.