[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 132 (Wednesday, November 17, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S11424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE DEATH OF JANE E. MITCHELL

 Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I wish to honor the life of a truly 
great woman, Jane E. Mitchell. She passed away on Saturday, November 
13, after 83 years of standing up for the rights of others. Her impact 
on the State of Delaware is profound, and her spirit everlasting.
  Many in Delaware know Jane Mitchell as the wife of Littleton ``Lit'' 
Mitchell, Delaware's first African-American lawyer and a remarkable 
force in the civil rights movement. With all of his astounding 
accomplishments, though, Lit never made a decision without talking it 
over with Jane. She may not have had his public profile, but she 
certainly knew the intricacies of the issues and just how much was at 
stake.
  Far beyond her role as the wife of an influential man, Jane Mitchell 
was an extraordinary person in her own right. Her life is a story of 
achievement--each one greater than the last. In her nursing career, 
Jane began making history by being the first African-American at 
Delaware State Hospital to treat both black and white patients. Her 
career led her to become the first African-American nursing director in 
the State, and she was eventually the president of the State Board of 
Nursing and vice-president of the Delaware Nurses Association before 
her retirement.
  After retiring, Jane Mitchell devoted her life to volunteering. Her 
causes were numerous, and she was passionately committed to each. She 
continued her work in medicine and civil rights, and became a powerful 
voice in the fight to improve the treatment of the mentally ill. In 
1998, a building was erected in her name at the Delaware Psychiatric 
Center.
  Jane E. Mitchell has been described as a pioneer, a trailblazer and a 
heroine. She devoted her life to promoting the welfare of others. 
Whether it was in her role as nurse, advocate, volunteer or wife and 
mother, Jane never wavered in her enthusiasm for doing good and making 
a difference. I am saddened by her passing, yet she continues to 
inspire me. Jane Mitchell's legacy is great, and I am honored to 
recognize her today.

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