A homegoing celebration for Mr. Samuel Mitchell, Jr., of Tampa, Florida who passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 will be held Saturday, September 24th, 1:00 p.m. at Aikens Funeral Home Chapel, 2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Rev. Michael Hopkins, officiating. The interment will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery. Samuel Mitchell, Jr. was born in Bainbridge, Georgia on September 21, 1933 to the late Samuel Mitchell, Sr. and Mary Williams. His parents taught him to always put God first and make an 'Honest' day of living for himself. Samuel accepted Christ at an early age. As a toddler his parents moved from Bainbridge, Georgia to Tampa, Florida (Ybor City). While growing up in Ybor, he attended Hillsborough County Schools. While in school Samuel worked in a cigar factory making Cuban cigars. He also worked in Ybor City and on Central Ave, as a shoe shiner. While shining shoes he met the president of the International Longshoreman Association (I. L.A.). He started working at the Port Manatee Banana Boat Local # 1759 (I.L.A.), then on Tampa Waterfront local # 1402 (I.L.A.). While working many, many years with I.L.A. he earned the nick name A.K.A. 'Sweet-Back Sam'. 'Sweet-Back Sam' loved sail boating, fishing, crabbing, swimming and cooking. Samuel retired after serving over 35 years at the Waterfront International Longshoreman Association. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Rose Lee Lawery and Annie Mae Bell; nephews, Johnnie Lawery, Jr. and Jimmy Bell; niece, Janet Baker and step-son, David Kearney. He leaves his precious memories with his children, Kaletha Mitchell-Tate (George), Rosemary Mitchell 'Tiger' Carter, Claudell 'Shelia' Mitchell-Bush (Gary), Anthony Mitchell (Paula) and Willie 'Edward' Kearney; brother, James Mitchell; grandchildren, Spencer A. Pollard, Tyrone Farris, David A. Carter, Samuel I. Freeman and Arielle A. Mitchell; nieces, Darlene Mitchell (Michael) and Jamie Wicks (Terry); nephew, Joseph Bell (Nellie); great-nephews, Tameel Scott, Jamil Baker, Rashard Brown, Bobby and Bo Bo Black, Malcom, Roland, Joseph, Jr., Tarris and Eric Bell and Carlos Burney; great-nieces, Sophia Baker, Jo'Wanna White (Anthony), Shyla Perkins (Armond), Mohogany James, Charpae, Janiyya, Ikai and Toniya Brown, Kathy, G.G., Keisha, Kim and Barbara Black, Caretta Knight, Rhonda, Ursula, Rolanda and Taiwanna Bell; special friends, Howard Sanders (Deidra) and Yvonne 'Cookie' Bush; a host of other relatives and friends in and around Ybor City, Belmont Heights, Plant City, New York City and Los Angeles, California. The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, September 23rd from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The family and friends are asked to meet at the chapel at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday for the service.







Visitation
Aikens Funeral Home
Friday, September 23, 2016
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM
2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tampa, FL 33610

Funeral Service
Aikens Funeral Home
Saturday, September 24, 2016
01:00 PM
2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tampa, FL 33610