Carol Sue Mitchem

February 22, 2022

LASHMEET - Heaven's gates opened and the sun shined down at Princeton Community Hospital on February 22, 2022 as our loving wife, mother & grandmother, Carol Sue Mitchem, age 77, gained her angel wings. Carol passed away in peace with loved ones by her side. Born in Windmill Gap, she was the daughter of the late Andrew & Inez Hedrick Hodges. Carol graduated from McComas High School. She was a member of Deliverance Temple in Brushfork and sang in the choir. Carol had a love for music her entire life and enjoyed worshiping the Lord. She was a member of several Southern Gospel music groups including: The Glory Bound Singers, The New Beginnings & Pam and the Cornerstones that traveled throughout West Virginia and Virginia. Carol was a faithful servant of Christ, in her past she served as Praise and Worship Leader and was active in the Women's Ministry. Carol raised eight children during her lifetime and will always be remembered as a loving mother who prayed for her children and family daily. Carol worked many years at Glenwood Park Retirement Village, where she was a bright light to her patients and co-workers. Carol enjoyed cooking, working in her flower garden, dining out and shopping with her sister and family. She enjoyed reading, going to the movie theatre, spending time at the lake with her family and being pampered by her loved ones. Carol will be remembered as a selfless, kind, authentic, beautiful and loving mother, grandmother and wife. She had a quiet strength. She never complained and always knew her final destination would be home, with the Lord. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters, James "Tom" Hodges, Nancy Myers, Curtis "Jack" Hodges, Norma Price, Willie Harvey, Joseph "Bennie" Hodges and Roger Hodgesl; son-in-law, Danny Shrader; an infant son, "Baby Boy" Gregory; an infant great-grand-daughter, Lena Lee Krabbe. Survivors include her husband, Aaron Mitchem of Lashmeet. They celebrated 40 years of marriage this past August. She is also survived by one sister, best friend and singing partner, Pamela Hodges Smith of Old Bramwell Rd, WV; eight children, Brenda Lee (Gary) Krabbe of Machesney Park, IL, Sandra Dee (Tony) Olbrich of Wytheville, VA, Tina Jo (Wallace) Williams of Wytheville, VA, Billy Joe "Joey" (Brandy) Gregory Jr. of Davis, IL, Robert Earl "Bobby" (Heather) Gregory of Austinville, VA, Alice Shrader of Sandlick, Lori Havens (Jeff) of Sandlick and Rita Annette Barlow of Lashmeet. She had the great pleasure to enjoy four generations of the family with an abundance of grandchildren and great-grand-children. Carol leaves behind a loving and special nephew, Steve Walker; and nieces Kathy Toombs and Angela Gills. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with Pastor David Kirby officiating. A private graveside service will be conducted Monday, February 28, 2022 at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton, where Billy Joe Gregory, Jr., Robert Gregory, Jeremiah Enberg, Evan Gills, Keith Salas and Tony Olbrich will be serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends Saturday, February 26, 2022 from noon until service hour at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.bailey-kirk.com.