James Roney Mitchell Sr

James Roney Mitchell, Sr., known as "Jim" or "Jimmy", age 86, of Manquin, Virginia, passed away at home on October 11, 2026. He shared 63 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Barbara Ann Croxton Mitchell, who preceded him in death on February 16, 2025.

Jim was born in Richmond, Virginia, on November 10, 1939, and moved to Tappahannock at a young age, where he grew up on his parents' farm. It was there, while attending Tappahannock High School, that he met the love of his life. Before they married in 1962, Jim served two years in the United States Army Reserve, stationed at Fort Knox and Fort Bliss. During that time, he wrote Barbara many love letters, treasured keepsakes that remain in the family to this day. After their wedding in Tappahannock, they purchased their first home in Richmond, where Jim began a 20-year career as a mechanic with DuPont.

In 1973, they had a home built in Manquin and in 1974, they welcomed the first of their two miracle babies, beginning a beautiful new chapter in their lives. Jim had an incredible work ethic and took tremendous pride in providing for his family. After leaving DuPont, he spent several years farming before eventually retiring from his position as a maintenance mechanic with Quality Automotive.

Jim had a deep love for the outdoors, hunting, country music, his yard and flowers, and the beauty of nature, but his greatest passion was fishing. Everyone who knew him knew how much he loved to fish. The Rappahannock River held a very special place in Jim's heart. His parents had a home on the river beginning in 1960, and it became the setting for countless wonderful memories with Barbara, family, and friends, both before and after their children came along. He loved sharing detailed stories of those days and often expressed his feelings simply, saying, "I love my river."

Jim passed his love for the river on to his children, introducing them to it when they were still babies, teaching them to water-ski and fish at an early age, sharing his talent for slalom skiing, and instilling in them his extensive knowledge of and appreciation for nature. He was resourceful and creative, able to fix just about anything, and was rarely without a project. He enjoyed building things like an osprey nest, picnic tables, and the deck on the family pond where he spent time feeding the geese and ducks. Even into his 80’s, Jim meticulously maintained his two properties himself, bringing that same hands-on dedication to everything he did. He was especially fond of his 1997 black Dodge Ram and was so proud of keeping it looking like new. He was quick to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need. Jim also loved capturing hundreds of remarkable photographs at both homes, along with breathtaking sunrises and sunsets at the river that his family will treasure forever. Known for his quick wit and clever one-liners, Jim had a great sense of humor that brought laughter to those around him.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin Garland Mitchell, Sr., and Helen Haurand Mitchell, and his brother, Benjamin Garland Mitchell, Jr. Remaining to cherish his memory forever are his children, Tina Marie Mitchell (Brian) and James "Jay" Roney Mitchell, Jr. (Lisa); two grandchildren, Roland Dwain Bradshaw and Daniel Joseph Bradshaw; and his son's sweet dog, Roney.

Jim was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, and friend. When fishing with David and Rob, he referred to himself as the captain, and the three of them had enough fishing stories to fill a book. He will be deeply missed and forever held in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. The love and commitment Jim and Barbara shared for more than six decades was a lasting example of loyalty and partnership that inspired everyone around them.

"Dad, as we said to Mom, your life was a blessing and your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and you will be missed beyond measure."

A private family memorial service will be held to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his memory to Friends of the Rappahannock at riverfriends.org/give/.