Georgia Pearl Mitchum

Georgia Pearl Burge Mitchum of Batesville left her earthly body on May 5, 2018 to begin to know the joy of a heavenly body and have a glorious reunion with her papa and mama, her four sisters, and her husband John H. She was born October 23, 1919 and was raised in Cave City, Arkansas. Over the years she became friends with a president, several governors, and many elected officials. She was a "regular" on helping to hold elections. One of her best friends was Judge John Norman Harkey. Her love for and commitment to The Lord Jesus Christ were evident in every aspect of her life. Beyond her commitment to Jesus, "Family" was everything. She was so proud of her boys, their spouses, and all of the grandchildren. One of her greatest joys was "giving." She never had much money or wealth. She was a conduit. If she came to possess anything, she'd give it away. One of her favorite sayings was "happiness is not happiness until you give it away!" Those who knew her attest this was her approach to life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Newton Burge and Mintie Baxter Burge, four sisters, Zola Burge McCloud (Gilbert,) Thelma Burge Johnson (Orville,) Ruethel Burge Whitlow (Calvin,) and Erma Burge Thorpe (Charles,) and her beloved husband John Henry Mitchum, a former state representative, fiddle player and consummate entertainer. She is survived by two sons, Johnny Burge Mitchum and wife Becky Margaret, Thomas Edward "Tommy" Mitchum; two additional daughters-in-law Carol Gilbert Anderson and Janet Siler Mitchum; two grandsons, Gil Mitchum (Laura), Brian Thomas Mitchum (Jamie), four granddaughters, Sarah Mitchum Morgan (John David), Ashley Mitchum Freiert (Jonathan), Rachel Mitchum and Olivia Rachael Holt; eight great-grandsons; one-great granddaughter; and "daughters from another mother" Trudy Hall and Dana Moody Manuel. She also claimed and was claimed by many as an adopted grandma, mother, mentor and friend. Visitation will be held at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home Chapel, 510 E. College Ave., Batesville, Ark., 72501 from 11 a.m. till 1 p.m. on Tuesday May 8, 2018. Also, there will be a celebration service at 1 p.m., then interment at Egner Cemetery. The Reverend Josh Sweeny, pastor of First Baptist Church of Desha and Reverend Troy Sharp will conduct the service. Pallbearers are Britt Farris, Larry Pinkston, Jonathan Freiert, John David Morgan, Dan Johnson, and Robert Mitchum. Memorials may be made to Desha First Baptist Church, 2655 Heber Springs Road, Batesville, Ark., 72501 www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/batesville.