Calvin Coolidge Senior High School
Washington, DC
"Class of 1965"
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Yuletta Alicia McDonald Mitchell
June 8, 1947 to October 9, 2010
Remembering Yuletta
Yuletta Alicia McDonald Mitchell was born on June 8, 1947 in Raleigh, NC where she spent the first two years of her life. She was the eldest of four children born to Willie James and Lillie Thorpe McDonald, and the beloved “big sis” of Faye, Vernon, and Kenneth.
Always an outstanding student, Yuletta spent her formative years at River Terrace and Keene Elementary Schools and St. Gabriel’s Catholic School in Washington, DC. After attending Holy Name Academy for two years, she transferred to Calvin Coolidge High School and was a proud member of the graduating class of 1965. At Coolidge, Yuletta served on the student council, was captain of the cheerleader’s squad, and was an active participant in several theatrical productions and other activities.
Even from her early years, Yuletta was known as an organizer, leader, and outspoken advocate for causes in which she believed.
Yuletta graduated from the University of Maryland, where she studied the biological and social sciences and received her degree in psychology. While in college, she began working part-time for the Federal government at the Department of Education - the beginning of a long Federal career spanning more than 30 years that included positions in advisory and senior management with the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In 1966, Yuletta married Roy Samuel Mitchell (deceased), and from this union was born Anthony W. Mitchell (Tony) to whom she was a loving and devoted mother.
Always the entrepreneur, Yuletta was a licensed realtor since 1985 and during her youthful years she developed, owned, and operated a licensed daycare center in the District of Columbia, for pre-school through kindergarten-aged children.
After her retirement from HUD in 2002, Yuletta pursued new opportunities as a management consultant in the areas of housing, Federal grants, proposal development, writing/editing, and program administration for such organizations as the National Medical Association, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and the Alexandria Virginia Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Community service was always important to Yuletta. She was a founding member and president of the Potomac River Maryland Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.; board president of the Ionia R. Whipper Home, a haven for pregnant girls; a member of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board and of the Board of Montgomery Housing Partnership; and a member of the 2011 Class of Senior Leadership Montgomery. Since 2007, Yuletta served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Montgomery County, MD, a program that works to assure that the necessary services and supports are provided to children in foster care. On the day she passed, from undetected cardiovascular disease, Yuletta was being honored as an outstanding alumnus by her beloved alma mater, Calvin Coolidge High School.
Yuletta lived life to the fullest. She enjoyed traveling with family and friends, often organizing trips or scouting out new locations. For many years she was an active skier with Black Ski, Inc, and enjoyed golfing. She loved to dance, bike, and exercise, especially Zumba. But of course, one of her favorite hobbies was shopping! She was known for her exquisite sense of style, and keen eye for bargains, often buying a shirt, hat, scarf, whatever - for family members and friends, because “it looked like you.”
Yuletta dearly loved her family. She was a mentor, counselor, advisor and friend to so many relatives. She could always be counted on to be at a family event, lending her support and making sure that whatever needed to get done - would get done.
Over the years, she gave freely and generously of her time and resources, and had a kind, giving heart. She took in and cared for several stray cats that she’d find on the side of the road or which appeared at her doorstep (at one time she had five!), and was very encouraging to friends and family in their academic and professional pursuits (i.e., researching scholarship information - and being an ace at helping people prepare federal applications).
The lights of Yuletta’s life were her grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins, with whom she spent as much time as she could - every birthday party, graduation, dance recital - rarely was an important event missed. Yuletta was affectionately referred to as “Gram” (and don’t you dare call her “Granny”) and “Auntie” by grands, nieces and nephews respectively, and was known to shower them with love, gifts, and any type of support they needed. The activities and events she shared with them are too many to name, but beaches, movies, fairs, restaurants, overnight stays, campus visits and lots of summer vacations are just a few. Because Tony and his wife Brenda have always lived close by, Gram’s Sunday visits came to be expected, and the girls delighted in seeing her each and every time.
Yuletta leaves to cherish her memory her son Tony (Brenda); granddaughters Krista and Kara; parents Willie James and Lillie Thorpe McDonald; sister Faye McDonald Smith (George) of Atlanta, GA; brothers Vernon McDonald and Kenneth McDonald; nieces Mekka Smith and Maya McDonald; nephews Kenyon Hobbs, Midion Smith, and Matthew McDonald; aunts Mildred Heyward (John) of Chicago, Ruby Thorpe (Charlotte, NC), Gloria Lockett (John) of Tinton Falls, NJ, close cousin (like a brother) Earl H. Thorpe (Silver Spring, MD); and a host of other relatives and friends.
We will all miss Yuletta (daughter, sis, Mom, Gram, “Y,” Auntie, cousin, friend) for her beautiful smile and effervescent personality, for her caring and compassionate spirit, for her mentorship and advice - for bringing out the best in all of us.
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