Big Stone Gap, Va.-Joan Marie Mitchell McFall, 69, gained her wings on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Lee Health and Rehabilitation Center in Pennington Gap, Va.
She attended The Cave Church of Norton, VA and was a former member of William’s Chapel A.M.E Zion Church of Big Stone Gap, VA. She was active in the community and loved helping others. She was a member of the Eastern Star and various clubs. Before her health declined, Joan sang in various choirs in the community and was known for singing “Grace and Mercy” at various churches and events. She also enjoyed watching Detroit Lions football games on a regular basis, except when they played the Dallas Cowboys as she was the Dallas Cowboys’ biggest fan. She enjoyed and loved spending time with her family and close friends.
Joan was a 1975 graduate of Powell Valley High School and 1990 graduate of Mountain Empire Community College in the Pharmacy Tech program. Joan was a cosmetologist and graduated from Barton Hair School in Kingsport, TN. She held various other positions in the community. She was employed by Frontier Health in a thrift store as supervisor of disabled and non-disabled employees. She also worked in special education as a Teacher’s Aide at Powell Valley Middle School/Union Middle School, until her retirement.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie McFall, Jr.; parents, James Edward and Doris (Wood) Mitchell; sister, Miriam M. "MiMi" Williams; and a special nephew, Rodney A. Mitchell.
She leaves to mourn and cherish her memory, her daughters, Consuelo “Connee” Mitchell, Hixson, Tn. and La’Toya S. Mitchell, Big Stone Gap; grandchildren, Raekwon K. (Caitlyn) Mitchell, Zion K. Mitchell, Dalicia J. Leffew, Devaughn K. Mitchell, Sage M. Mitchell and Malachi D.T. Leffew; great-grandchildren, Oakland K. Mitchell and Senorah R. Mitchell; siblings, Jimmy Mitchell (Marcia), Big Stone Gap, Dennis Mitchell (Becky), Braselton, Ga., Stephania Stuart (Walter) and Dorthea Mitchell, both of Appalachia, Va.; special nephew, Cedric D. Mitchell; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive friends from 1:00pm to 3:00pm Sunday, April 2, 2023, at Gilliam Funeral Home, 618 Wood Ave., W., Big Stone Gap. The service will follow at 3:00pm with Rev. Jimmy Mitchell, Rev. Sandra Jones and David Lee officiating.
Burial will follow at Joseph Garfield Long Memorial Cemetery (The former Oakview Cemetery) Big Stone Gap, VA.
Pallbearers will be: Raekwon Mitchell, Zion Mitchell, Devaughn Mitchell, Cedric D. Mitchell, James M. Mitchell, Trey Harris, Desmond Burney, William “Turk” Hollinger, Kevin Howell, and Sean Poole
Gilliam Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve Joan McFall’s family.