Mark the Carp

A Family
Tribute
to
Elsie Mitchell Rice

“We are a large family and we still enjoy being together. [My great grandchildren] are the lovingest children and the future generation of this country.”

“My advice to all future generations of our family would be...to put God first in your life...to honor your father and mother, love your neighbor...read and study the Bible, especially the New Testament, to learn how to really live.”

In the year 1913, times were good and many exciting things were happening in America. The new Studebaker "25" came out and the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, was inaugurated. Perhaps a more meaningful event for those of us in this room occurred on May 8, in Stokes County North Carolina. In a modest log house hidden away in the hills were a young farmer and his wife waiting for their first child to be born. Her name was Elsie Pauline and her proud parents were Mattie Belle and William Luther Mitchell. Little did Mattie and Will know how their family would grow and flourish after this day and what a wonderful woman this small baby would become. She would be the first of many......11, in fact.