Obituary

Eric Wayne Mitchell was born on March 29, 1949, to John C. Mitchell and Elta Mitchell in Buffalo, New York. He was educated in the Buffalo Public School System and a graduate of Hutchinson Central Technical High School, and a student at Fredonia State University of New York majoring in Communications, theater and performance arts.  Eric's cultural interests developed through his involvement in the visual and performance arts community in Buffalo, New York. He was a founding member of the Ujima Theater where he was befriended by the renowned musician, composer and Djembe Drummer, the late "Papa" Emile Latimer. Eric expressed his Afrocentrism by introducing his daughter, Erika, to African dance, as a supporter of the Black Dance Workshop and the cultural programs of the St. Augustine Center of Buffalo. He was employed as a bus driver with the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority (NFTA) and a cab driver with Broadway Taxi.

Eric relocated to Erie, Pennsylvania and worked in a variety of positions until gaining employment as a bus driver with the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA), a driver with the Joseph McCormick Construction Company, and later as a driver for LYFT. Although he enjoyed casual conversations with his passengers—passing on words of wisdom, wit and humor, Eric's interest in Communications afforded him the opportunity to work in the radio broadcast industry. In 2010, he met radio host Homer Lee Smith, Jr., and gospel radio host Dorothy Smith Frazier, sharing his interest in becoming trained to join the volunteer staff of Super Soul Saturday, Gannon University Radio Station 90.5 WERG. The rest, as is often said, was history, with Eric and Lee becoming friends and colleagues. Eric's college participation in debates and public speaking, along with his natural affinity for people, made him well suited for hosting the Saturday evening program from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m. He is remembered as a dependable, hardworking, and caring individual, "a team player" who gave his best as an active and concerned citizen of the Erie community. His presence and voice will be dearly missed by his colleagues and his community.

Eric was a man of deep faith, and it was not uncommon for him to share a word of encouragement with the LYFT riders he transported from place to place. He was interested in the well-being of people and often witnessed to the goodness of God in his life. Because he was not ashamed of sharing the gospel—the good news of Christ, many were blessed for having been in his presence. He had a heart for helping others and always found ways to support the Blessed Table Ministry of the St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, where he attended worship services. At the time of his passing, Eric was interested in learning more about the scriptures and in the process of pursuing formal biblical education when the Lord God called him home. Eric Wayne Mitchell leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter, Erika L. "Aminata" Mitchell, his brother Leon K. Mitchell, Sr., his niece, Jessica Mitchell, his great-niece Mone' Mitchell, his friends and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his parents, his nephew, Leon K. Mitchell, Jr., and his sister, Leslie Gail Mitchell.