Claudia Mae Mitchell Padgett, was affectionately known as mamae, mama p, Ms. P, and Cat-chicken. Claudia was the second born on June 25, 1928 in Knight's Florida to the late Rev. Samuel and Pearlie Mae Mitchell. She was baptized at Mt. Carmel MB Church, Knight's, FL. She attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. On April 13, 1956, she was joined in holy matrimony to Rev. Benjamin O. Padgett, Sr., at the home of Mrs. Sylvia L. Collins, by the late Rev. C. L. Walker who was pastor at that time of Grace Mary MB Church.

Claudia attended Hillsborough Community College where she obtained her floristry license and opened Claudia's Flowers. She also worked as a housekeeper at Padgett's Boarding Home and noted to be a well-known seamstress. Claudia was active with the local, district, and conference Women's Missionary Society and the Lay organization. She was a silver sister with the Women's Missionary Society. Claudia was a retired ministers spouse having formerly served as first lady at Zion Hill AME Church(Tampa), St. James AME Church (Progress Village), Moore's Chapel AME Church (St. Petersburg), Ward Temple AME Church (Bradenton) Bethel AME Church (Tampa) and Mt. Zion AME Church (Port Tampa).

She was preceded in death by both parents, spouse Rev. B. O. Padgett (December 10, 1987), mother in-law, Susie M. Padgett; step-daughter, Susie Lewis; siblings, Ruby L. Davis, Jesse Keys, Naomi Mitchell, Hayward Mitchell, Leroy Mitchell, Sam Mitchell Jr., and Clarence Mitchell.

She leaves to cherish precious memories with her brother, Leonard Mitchell (Thelma) Mulberry, FL, raised as a sister, Twanda Andrades (Plant City); children, Vivian M. Fisher (Syracuse, NY), Rev. Cora P. Laster, William G. Mitchell (Syracuse, NY), James D. Padgett, Lemuel A. Padgett (Elfreda), Stepsons Rev. Benjamin O. Padgett, Jr (Atlanta, GA), and Tyronne G. Padgett; 15 grandchildren; three special grandsons, Marcell A. Fisher (New Orleans, LA), Donnell S. Fisher (Shonnice), Plant City and Edgarlee O. Laster and fiance, Kristina; 10 great-grands; 3 sisters in-law, Levoida Mitchell, Mary Padgett, Tyree Padgett; 1 Brother in-law, Rubin E. Padgett; god-son, Henry Gray; god-daughter, Sherlyn Williams, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, the New St. Paul AME Church family; and many other sorrowing relatives and friends. The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, December 16th, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the service.


Visitation
Aikens Funeral Home
Friday, December 16, 2016
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM
2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tampa, FL 33610

Viewing
Aikens Funeral Home
Friday, December 16, 2016
07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tampa, FL 33610

Funeral Service
New St. Paul AME Church
Saturday, December 17, 2016
11:00 AM
4603 N. 42nd St
Tampa, FL 33610