OBSERVER Newsroom
The Sacramento community sadly lost a pillar on March 12 when Antioch Progressive Church pastor Dr. Curtis J. Mitchell — son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather — was called home peacefully in Sacramento, surrounded by the spirit of love of his family, friends, and congregation at the age of 84 years.
In October 1986, Dr. Mitchell accepted the call to pastor Antioch Progressive Church with a mission to “glorify God” and “make and grow healthy disciples for the Kingdom of God,” which he executed for 38 years as Senior Pastor. Through Dr. Mitchell’s leadership, Antioch Progressive developed into a bible-based and Christ-centered church that “[Dared] to be Different” in the face of the AIDS Health epidemic, heightened gang violence, increased inflation, and the ever-present housing crisis afflicting Sacramento, CA from 1986 till 2023. As a community advocate, Dr. Mitchell was continuously involved in many facets of community work, such as the Sacramento County Department of Health, the Task Force on AIDS, the board of directors of Goodwill Industries, and the Chief of Police Task Force on Youth Gangs. Dr. Mitchell also worked in many capacities with the American Baptist Churches of the West (ABCW) USA where he was appointed as a church consultant for Growing Health Churches. Through his education and community works Dr. Mitchell’s love and concern for people were evident, although his most profound preaching, teaching, and counseling ministries were reflected within his role as leader of his Mitchell Family.
Dr. Mitchell is preceded in death by his parents, Curtis Van Williams and Lorraine Marie Mitchell; wife, Kay Mitchell; daughter, Terry Mitchell Dozier; brother, Charles Thomas Mitchell; niece, Iteria Mitchell; and great- nephew, Daniel Douglas.
As a “builder of buildings and men’s character” Dr. Curtis J. Mitchell established a family rooted in ministry, community activism, and engagement. Dr. Mitchell is survived by his loving wife Dorothy Mitchell; his brother Lynn (Mozetta) Mitchell, his sister-in-law Clara Mitchell; three children, Susan Harris-Rispress, Sharon Harris, and Don (Letty) Harris; and a host of many other family, friends, ministers, and congregants.
A Remembrance Service in celebration of Dr. Mitchell’s life will be held on Friday, March 24th, 2023 @ 6pm; a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 25th, 2023 @10am; and on Sunday, March 26th, 2023, a Special Sunday Worship will be held @10am along with a Luncheon featuring the ‘7 Sayings of Curtis J. Mitchell’ @12:30pm. All services shall be held at Antioch Progressive Church of Sacramento, (7650 Amherst St. Sacramento, CA 95832). In lieu of flowers, all memorial donations may be made through Venmo at: https://account.venmo.com/u/apccapfund. All donations will be used for capital improvements to the church facility including much-needed maintenance, repair, and replacement of various operating systems, ministry resources, and equipment in the name of Dr. Curtis J. Mitchell’s life’s mission.