11/14/2025
Donna Ruth Mitchell, 72, of Collins, MS, passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel, MS. Born on April 8, 1953, in Laurel, Mississippi, Donna lived a life full of love and dedication to her family and friends.
She is survived by her loving husband, Bryan Stevens of Collins, MS. Donna was a cherished sister to her twin Dora Bullman (Arnold) and older sister Tula Carver (Ashton).
She was a devoted grandmother to Haley Breanna Carlisle and Olivia Mitchell Carlisle, and a beloved great-grandmother to Hayes Carlisle, Hensley Magee, and Karly Graves. Donna also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and her special friend, Tommie Staten. She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Henry Carlisle; her parents, Alson (Tony) Mitchell and Agnes Marie Ainsworth Mitchell; and her sister, Esta Welch (Glenn Dale).
A Memorial service will be held on Friday, November 21, 2025, with visitation from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Ellisville Funeral Home in Ellisville, Mississippi, followed by a funeral service at 1:00 PM at Ellisville Funeral Home. Bro. Jimmy Barber will officiate the services. Arrangements are under the care of Ellisville Funeral Home.
Donna (“Mitchell” as she was known to her grandchildren, great grandchildren and many, many friends and coworkers) was loved and respected in all aspects of her life. She was devoted to her grandchildren Haley and Olivia and more recently her great grandchildren Hayes, Hensley, and Karly. To hear them call out “Mitchell!” and run to give her a hug meant the world to her. She adored (and was adored by) her husband Bryan, who she married in April 1983.
She graduated as valedictorian from South Jones High School and went on to obtain a degree in accounting from USM. She was always driven in her career, earning her CPA designation shortly after graduating. Her work was predominantly in the healthcare field, serving as CFO for several hospitals as well as Finance VP at Puckett Laboratories. She loved going into situations where predecessors had left huge accounting messes and implementing systems and procedures to correct them. Despite being hardnosed and sometimes even profane, she forged loving relationships with coworkers and subordinates as well as supervisors and boards. She never “demanded” respect – she always earned it by doing the work. She had little patience for people with what she called “no sense of urgency” but she made lifelong friendships regardless. One in particular was her very best friend, Tommie Staten, who she met in 1983 and over the last many years, talked daily and visited often.
She and her only child Henry had a special bond, raising him to be a good person and great father. She and Henry played together, fished, vacationed and went to church together, and doted on Haley and Olivia. Speaking of the grandchildren – oh how she loved Haley and Olivia. Haley (the firstborn) was her “Heart”, and Olivia, ten years younger was her Dad Henry reincarnated and her “Sweet Girl”. So many adventures to the beach, family gatherings, weekends with Mitchell, the zoo and more. The greatgrandchildren (Hayes, Hensley, and Karly) added that much more love that she spread on to them. At home, she loved to “play in the dirt” with gardening and plants and flowers. She also made many, many homemade jams, jellies, pickles, salsa, just to give to family and friends, coworkers and others.
She had a particular love for “the Field” which was an area on her land that ran along Oakey Woods creek. After the death of her son Henry in 2011, she was determined to clean up many acres of overgrown property where Henry and her dad Tony Mitchell spent so much free time. It was therapeutic for her. Over the years the property was transformed through her and Bryan’s work, along with sisters, brothers in law and others, with areas designated as the Park, the Garden or Happy Place, the Swim Hole, and the Glenn Dale Trail to welcome family and friends for rest and recreation. Donna absolutely LOVED going to the beach, sunning, swimming and especially collecting shells she and Bryan would find. Their home is filled with glass bowls and bases full of shells from many places.
She was an active member of Bethel Methodist Church, as her faith was important to her. She would drive from her home an hour away every Sunday until she and Bryan relocated close by and made it much easier. Church would be followed by a traditional Sunday lunch with her sisters and other family members, so rare these days.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Welch Graham Graveyard Association.
