Napoleon "Mitch" Mitchell, Jr.

Napoleon Mitchell Jr’s life journey began on February 21, 1937. He was the second child to bless the marriage of Napoleon and Ritchie Mitchell. He was born and raised in Harlem, New York. To friends and family, he was known as Mitch, Brother, Dad and Grandpa.
He had 2 siblings, sisters Carrie aka Shirley and Joan. The family resided at 237 West 148th Street. One day, Mitch’s younger sister Joan, had a High School friend, who had a car, came to pick her up to go shopping. Her name was Gloria Gant. When Mitch saw her, he was smitten immediately by the sophisticated beauty. They were married in 1963, and in 1966 the union produced a child, Guy Hamilton Mitchell…Mitch’s mini me.
Mitch was drafted by the United States Army in 1960, stationed at Fort Campbell Kentucky. There, he received a badge for sharpshooter (rifle), as well as a certificate for Military Justice. He was discharged in 1962 to return to college.
Mitch was always studious and thought highly of himself. As a young adult he would recite the Constitution every single day and tape it on a green tape recorder, to perfect his pronunciation of words and delivery. He was different. He was the first person in the family to achieve college degrees, and 2 master's degrees. He’s a graduate of Dewitt Clinton High School and City College where he received a Baccalaureate Degree with a major in Sociology. In 1975 he received Master of Arts Degrees in Criminal Justice and Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Mitch was a Black Man who felt he was The Man. He sought jobs where he would be in charge. He wouldn’t be happy in a job where he’d have to take orders from someone. At work he expected to be referred to as Mr. Mitchell…period.
Mitch began his career as a Social Caseworker for the New York City Department of Social Services. Thereafter, he was employed with the New York State Division of Parole as a Parole Officer.
In 1977, Mitch and his family left Harlem and moved to White Plains, NY, so he could have a closer commute to upstate facilities for his employment, and Guy could have a better life and education.
Mitch continued to excel; he held various leadership positions when employed with the NYS Department of Corrections. These positions include: Program Coordinator, Assistant Director, Supervisor of Guidance/Counseling, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent (commonly referred to as Warden) at Medium and Maximum-Security Prisons in Upstate New York. These prisons include: Oakside, Bedford Hills, Sullivan, Fulton, and Fishkill. He concluded his employment at Correctional Service Department, a half-way house for offenders at 10 Mt. Morris Park in Harlem. He retired after 32 years of New York State Service.
In Harlem and White Plains, Mitch was always involved in a civil rights group or organization that would benefit the community. He was a two – year member of the New York City Planning Board No. 2, where he served on the Housing Committee, and was the Co-Chairman of the Public Safety Committee. He was the founder and President of the Amsterdam Broadway Riverside Community Democrats. He was a Chairman of the Juniper Hill Civic Association, and he was elected district leader of the 64th Assembly District in Greenburgh, N.Y.
Mitch was a member of the Counseliers, where he served as Vice President, and as Parliamentarian. He was a member of the American Association of Public Administrators, the Association of Black Social Workers, and the Alumni Association of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
When he worked for Fair Housing Court, he would pose as a potential buyer of a home to expose discriminatory realtors.
Although Mitch had an accomplished career, he never bragged about it with family and friends. With them he expressed his other side, which was down to earth, a jokester, witty, life of the party, and did magic tricks for kids. Occasionally he would boast of what he was most proud of, his son Guy who currently is Acting Justice of The Supreme Court-Criminal Term in Bronx County. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
His hobbies were photography, weightlifting, running, biking, reading various books, and he was a movie buff. At Thanksgiving dinners he’d take group photos, and portraits. Mitch and Guy formed a videography company, in which they taped weddings and receptions.
Mitch was married to his wife Gloria for 49 years, until her passing on 7/21/2012 at the age of 73.
In Post Retirement he was Chairman of the Police Advisory Board in Greenburgh, assisted in campaigning for local elected officials and was a member of the African American Men of Westchester. He enjoyed spending time in his backyard, either reading, watching DVD’s, listening to CD’s or chillin in his hot tub.
Mitch was proud of the man his grandson Giles was evolving into, and the path he was following. Giles is a currently a senior at Cornell University. He loved his family, and loved being around them, immediate and extended family.
Since April of this year Mitch has resided at Epic Rehabilitation and Nursing in White Plains New York. His life journey ended on November 20, 2024. He will be remembered for his compassion, setting the bar high for family members to follow, and fighting for fairness and respect for others.
Mitch leaves behind to cherish his memory: Guy Hamilton Mitchell -son, Sandra- daughter in law, Giles- grandson, Joan Godette-sister (Erwin), nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Gloria, and sister Carrie. The family extends its gratitude to his close friend and neighbor Mary Levine who assisted Mitch before and after suffering 2 strokes.
We salute you King, Rest in Heaven.

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ATTENTION: As we continue to phase back into smaller capacity public visitations/services amid the continuing COVID & other various health concerns, we need your help in limiting/controlling the number of people, so please govern yourself accordingly for the health & safety of all. Thank you so kindly!

A Wake/Viewing/Visitation will be held on Saturday Nov. 30th, 2024 from 11:00AM-12:00PM, with Funeral Service starting 12:00NOON, all at Lee's Funeral Home & with limited seating. There is a MAXIMUM CAPACITY of 80 people at funeral home at any time, & masks are still optional. But the family will be live-streaming the Funeral Service on ZOOM, also available on our website the day of the service where it says WATCH WEBCAST, so you're able to view on ZOOM/there/here also/instead, just after 12pm/about 12:10pm (see order of service in Memorial Program herein). At the very least you can get hand sanitizer & sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen), and WALK-THRU to briefly greet the family. If not at capacity, you will be allowed in to have a seat; but if at capacity by the time you get here, you may be required to leave the premises after signing register book, so as not to be in violation nor cause a health hazard, so please govern yourself accordingly. Regardless of if you're able to enter/be seated, or not, please still maintain/respect social distancing & please refrain from/limit touching/hugging/handshaking, preferably just elbow bumping briefly if at all. If instructed, PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY leave the building & premises if at our capacity at any time. PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff/personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for kindly following directions & any laws and/or policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that Napoleon Mitchell, Jr. & family entrusted his care & the care of their loved one to us, and that he & they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Mitchell Family during their time of bereavement.

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Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/watch remotely/not able to sign in person.

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Feel free to come to the funeral home wearing a mask, & feel free to wear a mask inside the funeral home, even/especially if you have allergies causing you to sneeze/cough/sniffle and of course if you're sick in any way, and still respect social distance. You must use hand sanitizer upon entering our funeral home. If you know you have a coronavirus/COVID-19/other respiratory disease; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronavirus/COVID-19/other respiratory disease; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, please do NOT attend any services nor come into our funeral home. Please feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing the family's register book. Please follow & abide by the rules of our funeral home, and directions of the funeral home staff/personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions, our policies, & any laws, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of all. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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As a lasting tribute in lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests a contribution may be made in his name/memory/honor to the African American Men of Westchester (may be done on your own or simply through the donation tab/link here in website at the bottom of this page), and/or you may choose to plant a tree in his name/memory/honor. If sending flowers despite the family suggestion, & since the cemetery limits the flowers brought in, sending small plants or vases the family may keep or donate is preferable, and they may be delivered either on Friday Nov. 29th, 2024 by/before 6:00PM or Saturday Nov. 30th by/before 10:45AM to Lee's Funeral Home. The Family Thanks You!