Catherine Marine Winslow Mitchell

CATHERINE MARINE WINSLOW MITCHELL, age 98, of Avon Park, Florida passed away peacefully from congestive heart failure at her daughter’s home in Hiram, Georgia on March 22, 2026. She was born December 23, 1927, in Lockhart, Alabama to Lillie Clora (Trant) Winslow and William Elisha Winslow. Her Winslow ancestry has been traced back to Edward Winslow who is listed as one of the passengers who set sail on the Mayflower for the New World. His son, Josiah Winslow, was the first native born General and first native born Governor of an American Colony (Plymouth, Massachusetts.)

As a young child the family moved from Alabama to Orlando, Florida where Catherine attended Boone High School. Times were hard so she dropped out of high school and went to work as a telephone operator to help her mother financially support two younger siblings. She was especially proud to earn her High School Equivalency Diploma on March 19, 1970.

Catherine married Lee T. “Tony” Mitchell of Frostproof, Florida on July 18, 1948. They moved to Avon Park where Tony was employed by Florida Power Corporation and she became a telephone operator (and later a supervisor) with Inter-County Telephone, later becoming United Telephone Company. She retired after 34 years in 1983 when the toll operators in Avon Park were declared “surplus.”

Catherine and Tony moved to 225 East Walnut Street in March 1950 and that residence remained the Mitchell “home” until April 2025 after Catherine reluctantly agreed to live with her daughter in Georgia.

She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing the latest fashion clothing for her two daughters, including two beautiful wedding gowns. Tony and she willingly sacrificed their own pleasures to provide opportunities and support for their daughters to be involved in Brownies, Girl Scouts, piano/organ lessons, musical instruments for band and educational opportunities for their careers.

Catherine joined the First Baptist Church, Avon Park, on April 3,1949, and remained a dedicated member until her death. She loved this church and all its members for 76 years and made certain her two daughters were spiritually grounded.

Catherine approached life with dignity, honor, hard work, and .purpose, dedicating herself to excellence in all endeavors (expecting the same from her children!) She had a generous spirit, unwavering integrity, and a compassionate heart.

Catherine is survived by her daughters, Trudie Mitchell of Orange Park, Florida, and Nancy (Reed) Benschoter of Hiram, Georgia, grandson Eric (Delila) Benschoter of Potomac Maryland and Cairo, Egypt, granddaughter Amy Benschoter of Birmingham, Alabama, great-grandchildren Karma and Zedann Benschoter, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and one sister, and her husband of 65 years, Lee T Mitchell.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 10th,, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Avon Park, Florida with family receiving friends beginning at 10:30 a.m. Interment will take place at a later date at Bushnell National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Historical Society of Avon Park, 3 N. Museum Ave., Avon Park FL 33825, The Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 8190, Lakeland, FL, or a charity of your choice.

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Roy Davis Funeral Home.