Paxten Andrew Mitchell
September 7, 2004 ~ April 6, 2008
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Paxten Andrew Mitchell, 3, of 5 Johns Street, Asheville, passed away Sunday, April 6, 2008, at his home.
Paxten was born September 7, 2004, in Asheville, and touched many lives during his brief life. He will be remembered for his laughter and sweet disposition. He had the ability to comfort his comforters and he inspired his parents, family, friends and other pediatric patients with his zest for living. His life truly demonstrated love.
His family includes his mother and father, Robert E. and Amy A. Mitchell; his sister, Arianna Mitchell of the home; his maternal grandparents, David and Faye Atkins of Eupora, MS; his paternal grandparents, Danny and Yong Mitchell; his maternal great-grandmother, Christine Box of Eupora; and a host of extended family.
The funeral will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Asheville, with the Rev. Dr. Guy Sayles officiating. Interment will follow at Green Hills Cemetery.
His family will receive friends at the church Wednesday one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to the Paxten Mitchell Memorial Fund, c/o First Baptist Church, 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting with the arrangements.
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The one thing that kept, and continues to keep, me strong when I lost my son was knowing he is in a better place surrounded in God’s love. God be with you and keep you strong. Keep Paxten alive in your hearts.
Amy,Rob and Family, I am so sorry to hear of Paxten,s passing. I went by the funeral home tonight when I got off work because I cannot attend the funeral wednesday, he looks so peaceful and a little angel lying there, my heart breaks for you and your family, he is such a special little guy that has touched so many people and he was such a witness to God for everyone of Gods wonderful works, try to take care of yourself and we will all join Paxten one sweet day in that wonderful gloryland, I know he must be riding along on that wonderful big purple dinasor and making a lot of people laugh and smile in heaven, God Bless You and Your Family, Sincere Sympathy, Gail Trantham, Mission Hospital Neurosciences, P.S. you have alot of friends on neuro if you ever feel up to coming to see us, Love ya, Gail
I’m originally from Asheville as well, and as mentioned before, I have been following this story on citizen-times.com. May you find comfort, knowing that Paxten is suffering no more, he will always be an Angel watching over you.
My sincere condolences to the Mitchell Family.
Dear Mitchell Family,
We are so sorry for your loss.
You are all in our Thoughts and Prayers .
God Bless you all.
With Sympathy and love……
Amy and Rob,
Paxten’s short time here with you has been a great ministry. God has used him and your family to touch so many lives. May you feel God’s great grace, comfort, and strength at this time. May you continue to use Paxten’s story to help minister to others.
Lifting you up in our prayers.
I am overwhelmed at the passing of this beautifuil child. His smile lit up the space around him. May God wrap you in his love and give you peace.
Rob and Amy,
Paxten touched so many in his short years. I will always remember him. My thoughts and prayers are with you now and always.
Abby
A precious little boy and such a warm adorable family. My thoughts and prayers are with you..
Rob and Amy,
As I leave this note my heart is breaking and the tears are streaming for your loss. I remember Paxten being full of life and laughter on those days he would get to come up to the hospital as you were working and eat lunch with you. He brightened all of our days with just that innocent smile. I pray that God will give you all the strength and comfort that only He can to help you go forward from this day. I can not even imagine how you are feeling but pray that you find some comfort in knowing Paxten is playing with the Angels, sitting on Jesus lap and smiling down on you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless
Monica Plemmons
Mission Hospitals
Neurosciences
Im sorry for the lost of Paxten.I know I didnt know him. But it hurts to know that his family lost him.. iI know that hes in heaven with our father.He is in a safe place and hes not sick anymore.. And again Im sorry for your lost..
I will miss Paxten’s hugs and kisses on the top of my head when I visited him at the hospital.
Dear Mitchell Family,
I only knew your precious Paxten through the newspaper but I wanted to share the words to this song with you. I lost a precious Grandchild Jonathan, who was 2 1/2 years old. The words to this song gave a lot of comfort to me.
Precious Child
In my dreams, you are alive and well
Precious Child. Precious Child
In my mind,I see you clear as a bell
Precious Child. Precious Child.
In my soul there is a hole that can never be filled. In my heart there is hope cause you are with me still. In my heart you live on Always there, never gone.
Precious Child, you left too soon And tho’ it may be true that we’re apart You will live forever.. in my heart…God knows I want to hold you, see you, touch you And I know that there’s a Heaven and someday I will again. Please know that you’re not forgotten until then.
(Words/Music by Karen Taylor-Good).
May God give you comfort and Know that you will see your Precious Paxten again.
Yours in Christ,
S, Bishop
We only know Paxten and your family through the paper, but his story has really touched our hearts… we can not express how sorry we are for your loss. Your family will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers and rest assured that Paxten will not be forgotten.
Love in Christ, Jason and Lorena Haynes
I do not know your family, but my heart truly goes out to you all. The love of a child is truly the kiss of God. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you. But know that your baby is playing on the shores of Heaven. Prayers to you all!! Lisa
I never met your wonder family or your sweet child. I work w/Tammy Adell and know her son Josh. Your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
I am a friend of Stacy B’s from work in Clearwater–even took care of her in labor-and she has been sharing your trials with me over these last months so that I would be able to add my prayers to all those praying for Paxton and your family. I am a Christian too and take comfort from knowing that Paxton is safe in Jesus’ arms now and not suffering. You know that you will be with him again one day when you return to your real home in heaven. Jesus said ‘I go now to prepare a place for you; in my house there are many mansions, if this were not so, I would have told you. ‘ You will all be together in one of those mansions one day, and your family will be complete again. I know it’s not fair to lose him now, but some questions are only answered in heaven.
Another prayer partner, Jayne
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. May God give you strength, peace, and comfort now and in the days ahead.
Amy and Rob,
I’m sorry doesn’t sound good enough to write here. But I know there are no other words for this. I am heartbroken for you both and for all of your family and friends who loved Paxten. I have prayed for you all daily for the last 18 months. And I will continue to lift you up in prayer, and I know that our sweet Heavenly Father will sustain, comfort, and heal you. Every time I look at my saltwater fish aquarium I think of Paxten. It was because of the way you, Amy, described how much he loved his aquarium that I got one for my girls.
Love and prayers to you both.
Dear Amy,
I am truly blessed to know that I got the privledge to know paxton while I was in Nursing School. His Beautiful smile, his warm nature. I am so sorry I could not be there with you today. If there is anything at all I can do for you please don’t hesitate to ask. We love you and I am sure you know that. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dear Amy and Robert, I am so sorry for your loss and pray that you soon will find peace. Although I didn’t ever have the honor of meeting Paxten, I work at Mission and have had many updates from the nursing office about Paxten and his progress. God Bless you all. There is another angel in heaven.
To the Mitchell family, please know you are in our hearts and prayers. We are currently working on a website in honor of your son and invite you to visit at voiceoftheinnocent.com May God bless and keep you forever.
We do not know your family, but have followed Paxten’s story in the paper. We are deeply sorry for your loss. You have been and will remain in our prayers. Paxten’s life had a tremendous impact on the world and I will pray that God’s love will sustain and comfort you.
Alan and Brooke Smith
You don’t know me but my name is Tiffany Cordell. When I was in the hospital about a month ago, Paxten was in there and I remember him playing up and down the hall. He was a cute little boy and funny. I’m really sorry to hear that he has passed away. I will be praying for yall.
Dear Mitchell Family,
I did not know you personally, but I have followed Paxten’s journey since I saw it in the paper. It sounds like he was a strong little man and he fought a good fight. I know that today he is able to run and play with the angles that he saw and is free of pain. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers as you go thru this time.
God Bless,
Myra Matthews
You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Denise-AFR
Rob & Amy,
My heart is broken in a million pieces for you both and your entire family. What a great loss you are having to deal with. Your loss is Heavens gain for sure. I think it was so cute that Paxten was seeing colored angels and now he can run and play with all of the angels and is pain free. He has left his earthly house and gone to his heavenly home. What a journey he must have had on his flight home. WOW!! Im sorry that I never got to meet that little angel, I have been following his story for months now. Just know that we all will get to see him again someday soon. May GOD continue to watch over you all and Bless you each and every day.
Deb Welborn
ILIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT HAD THE PRIVELAGE OF MEETING YOUR SPECIAL LITTLE BOY. I KNOW THOUGH, THAT FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THAT GOD IS LAUGHING AND REJOICING OVER THE ROSE THAT HE HAS JUST GAINED. GOD DID NOT WANT HIM TO HURT ANY LONGER, BUT HE ALLOWED YOU ALL TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE DECISION. HE WANTED HIM TO COME AND BE BESIDE HIM AND DANCE ABOUT THE STREETS OF GLORY, BUT HE DIDIT IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS…GOD WILL SEE YOU THROGH, BECAUSE YOU ALLOWED HIM TO HAVE IS WAY….YOU WERE (ARE) GREAT PARENTS AND YOU BLESSED PAXTEN AS HE HAS BLESSED MANY IN HIS SHORT LIFE. MY GOD GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH AND THE WISDOW TO GET THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME. YOU ARE LOVED….
We are praying for strength to get you through this hard time. We love you. I hope that dragon is giving Paxten a wonderful ride.
I didn’t get to meet Paxten in person, but I did get to know him through CaringBridge. Thank you Amy & Rob for posting there. Many of us grew to love Paxten from this site. I’ll always remember his sweet smile from the pictures and I also learned how much strength, courage and faith his parents have. God bless you both.
Anita Wages
Marion, NC
I’m so very sad to hear about your loss. My deepest thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of need. You will see him again one day i’m sure. Now he is walking hand in hand with our Precious lord. Keep stong faith and pray in this time of need and your heart will soon heal. Bless you and your family. We will be Praying for you.
Patricia Leatherwood
Mitchell Family: My heart breaks for you. I know you do not me but I have followed to story from the paper and others that know the story. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Remember that God is always with you.
this breaks my heart. my mom passed last year with cancer that went from breast, to everywhere. i know how it feels to loose a child too. i lost my baby. im very sorry. i was praying for paxten when i saw his story on the news and i logged on here to check up on my moms guestbook and saw his name first and started crying. im very very sorry. i will be praying for the family. hes in a better place and God is the only hope in this situation
Our prayers are with you at this time. Angels in Heaven must be joyful that Paxton has arrived safely home. Those of us left behind will be sad to see him go but you will see him again. His love and all the other gifts he gave to you in his lifetime are still alive and will never die.
Rob,Amy,Ari and Family: My heart is filled with sorrow and peace at the same time. Sorrow that your loving son is no longer here on earth with you but peace that he is in heaven and no longer in any pain. I know he is safe in the arms of Jesus and that he will watch over you all from heaven. You will always have a place in my heart as will Paxten. You all take care and know you are always in my thoughts and prayers. Pressley and Andrew want you to know that they loved Paxten too. God bless you!
Paxten, you are a brave and strong little boy.. My heart is very saddened over you and you leaving this world so soon. You touched so many lives and I just wanted to say that I will always have you in my heart..I didnt know you, but I have so much love for you anyways. You are precious, and I know you will be missed. RIP Babyboy
My most heartfelt sympathy at this very difficult time in your lives – Paxten is no longer in pain – he is running in that ‘gold’ house
I can just see Paxten saying..’ Oh look what I’ve traded for a mansion, oh look what I’m leaving behind, Oh look who’ll be there to greet me, when I step in God’s sweet Paradise. I’m leaving behind all my sorrows, I’m leaving behind all my cares. I’ve traded it all for a mansion that Jesus has gone to prepare.’
That precious boy has touched more lives than anyone knows. You family are in my prayers.
Dear Mitchell Family,
Although we did not know your family personally, we felt compelled to do what we could to help out. We were saddened to hear about the loss of Paxten. As a lady stated in church yesterday when referring to her father who recently passed away, ‘He’s not lost. I know right where he’s at. He’s with God now!’ Take comfort in that fact and know you will be reunited with him one day. Let God’s hand continue to guide you through this difficult time. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
To Little Paxtens family and friends, my prayers are with you all now and in the coming months, as you are going to need far more strength than you have ever had to have before.Its not our place to question why but being human we do. That is why the Bible states all it takes is having enough faith in something or someone even to amount to the size of a mustard seed we could move mountains. Little Paxten moved mountains with his smiles and personality. His belief in God never failing and his two ANGELS waiting to guide him safely into the waiting arms of GOD.I cannot wait to see Paxten and walk with him on the streets of Glory.
I will never forget Paxten’s smile, laughter and energy! He always brightened my day! I know no amount of words will be comforting at this time, but do know that I am continuely praying for you all!
Amy, we love you, and you and your family are in our prayers. Always remember your son touched many lives in his brief time and will always be remembered.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. We love you and will be praying for you and your family. May God give you the strength you need.
Amy,
I am so sorry to hear that your son passed away. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Natalie
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. May God wrap His loving arms around you all during this time.
ISAIAH 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Love & Prayers
Rob, Amy, & Ari,
I only knew Paxten through your stories and pictures, but I could see what a loving and loved child that he was. Our thoughts, prayers, and love are with all of you.
Everyone here at the United States Wildland Firefighters Association,would like to express our deepest sympathy for our brother and his family.We have followed Paxten’s Illness for sometime now and are very disheartend and sad about his passing.
God will now hold him and bless him protect him in his arms.
I don’t know your family personally, but my Sunday School class has been praying for you for some time. I’m sorry that Paxton isn’t with you anymore. I’ll be praying for God’s comfort and peace for you.
I have the most heartfelt sympathy for your family. May God be with you during this difficult time.
‘The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God.’
~Eileen Elias Freeman~
Today Paxten is one of those beautiful blue angels waving another little soul into the blessed peace that Heaven brings. I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you all. Lean on the Lord for he will see you through. Paxten will forever be only a prayer away. God Bless you all.
Amy, Rob and Ari,
I am so sorry for your loss! I will sure miss seeing Paxten’s sweet face when I come to visit you all. I will cherish the memory of him on his playground when he grabbed my face and kissed me right on the lips. I love you all very much and I wish I could be there with you now. I am thinking of you and praying for you in this time of sadness.
Love, Stacy, Shane and Evan
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Paxten was a special boy who will be missed.
God Bless,
Misty Wooten
We’ve been praying for you and your family at my church and will continue to hold you up. May Jesus comfort you and bring you peace in this difficult time!
I followed paxten’s story from the new’s to the papers.He touched so many other people in many diffrent ways,my heart ,prays, and thoughts go out to your family during this time of grief.Paxten will be missed.God bless your family.
Dear Mitchell Family,
Thank you for allowing me to meet such a brave little boy. He had a very sweet smile each time you came into my consignment shop. It has been months since I seen your family. I asked a mutual friend about him often. I am very sorry of your loss. May God’s grace ease your sadness. Your family remains in my prayers.
You are in my thoughts and prayers during this time of such great sorrow! May you find strength and restoration in His great power through His Holy Spirit! God loves you and so do I! Linda T (Teacher w/Faye at Weir)
To family and friends – My prayers and thoughts are with you at this time. Paxten’s wonderful smile will be remembered always. Blessings and peace, Betty Nelon Rhodes
Amy and Rob,
You are in our prayers.
John 11:25-26
Chris, Sherby, Branson, Jordan, & Beau Gully
To the Mitchell Family,
Paxten was the talk of our office.
We are sorry about his little life cut so short. To be so little, he brought so many people together. Your family are in our thoughts & prayers.
Always,
Your friends at
Mike’s Heating & Cooling
Dear Rob Amy and Ari Just want you to know we are still in prayer for your family . There are no words to say to take the pain away but just remember God is always there .You will continually be in our thoughts and prayers . I pray God will give you peace and strength and comfort during these terrible times . We are just a phone call away . With Deepest Sympathy and Loving Memories of a precious Little Hero. Love In Christ Linda and Ben Barnes .I have a poem for you I will send it to you or drop it off at the funeral home . We are a friend of Mike and Shirley Dewesse . I have followed your battle and know Little Paxten is at rest with his heavenly Father . We will join him again soon . Remember he is not gone he is only away for a little while.
I don’t know you all personally but
but I do know the pain you are feeling-I have walked that path . I have kept up with your precious son’s battles
while reading Asheville news on my computer. My loss of a child was when she was 63 years of age but in my heart she was still the darling baby girl I carried under my heart for nine months and watched her
grow up, marry have children and then become a grandmother, but she
was stricken with a rare disease
as your darling little boy was, and she suffered so much just as he did. I know the pain and grief you felt
and went through the same feelings you have felt that by some miracle you would keep your darling boy.
The day came for me as it has for you to hear those final words. Nothing else can be done My head knew she was out of her suffering and as your son did, she touched many lives but the hole in my heart is still empty . Today would have been my 69th wedding anniversary but two yeaars and thirty five minutes after I heard the words, she’s gone
I heard the same words about my beloved husband. Same month same day of the month two years later
I can tell you the only hope we have to hold on to is our faith and trust in God and seek His peace and comfort. Ihave shared your tears and broken heart as I have kept up with the news and that heart that you feel is in a million pieces
can only be put back together
through the strength God will provide for you.
May God hold you close and comfort you I am praying for you all
and may God bless
We as a family do not know you all personally but the article in the Citizen-Times on Monday gave a sense of happiness when we read about Paxten seeing the angels and when he saw Jesus, because we lost my dad 3 years ago in May and it makes us feel so good to know that he did see Jesus as he was waitng for him to go with him. For Jesus was I am sure was waiting for my dad to go with him. Their are so many people that do not believe, that Paxten words should give them hope!! God bless you all!! You all are in our prayers forever!!
You are in my prayers.
I did not have the pleasure of knowing Paxten, however i can tell by the smile on his tiny face that he sure was all boy. I also know that there are no words can be spoken to let you all know how sorry i am. I cried when i read about Paxten’s story. We don’t always know why things like this happen but GOD does. He said in his word that he would never put more on us than we could handle. I can guarantee he is in a better place than we are. May GOD BLESS you all and keep you in his grace. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Stay strong. Remeber that little boy’s precious smile.
Amy and Rob i don’t know your family personally, but i followed your story through caring bridge journel,and the asheville citizen times. Im sorry to hear about the passing of paxton.Their are no words to exspress your grief.Your angel is now gone to be with other angels above with his pretty little smile and personallity.Now he can rest with no more pain and suffering my prayers are with you and your family may god bless.
I’m so sorry for your loss of such a precious life. God be with you and please know there are many thoughts & prayers going out for you.
you are in my prayers.
My prayers are with you and I know it has been a long battle for you all. my prayers are with you and may god be with you in the days and months ahead.
Dear Mitchell Family,
Even though I don’t know you personally, my heart is breaking for you at this time. Knowing that Paxton is now in the arms of Jesus is the comfort that I know. I pray that you will find comfort in knowing this. Your family has been on the prayer list at my Church and will continue to be.
I’m originally from Asheville (live outside Raleigh now)and read the paper online every day, following Paxton’s story. It broke my heart to hear of his passing on Sunday. Although I never met Paxton or his family, their story deeply touched my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.