Rev. James Clinton Mikell

Dr. James Clinton Mikell, age 74, of Gulf Breeze, FL, was promoted to Glory on Thursday, July 12, 2018, after an extended illness. He was born on March 22, 1944, in Jesup, Georgia, to Clinton Maroe and Rosella (Griffis) Mikell. He grew up in Jesup loving Roy Rogers, all-day cartoons on Saturdays at The Strand Theater, and all things football. He was in the same first-grade class as a cute little brown-eyed girl named Phnecia Ann Bowman. During high school, he discovered that she was the love of his life. Clinton and Phnecia married on January 14, 1962. During that time, Clinton made the most important decision of his entire life when he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. This wonderful choice would set the stage for his entire life. He surrendered to the gospel ministry in 1965 and moved his young family to Lakeland, Florida, where he attended Florida Baptist Schools. He was blessed to sit under the teachings of many great men of God including: Dr. Albert Garner, Dr. Hugh Harris, Dr. W.W. Watson, Dr. Harold Williams, Bro. Norman Pierce, and Dr. Julian Pope. Clinton returned to Jesup in 1968 to pastor his home church, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Throughout the next fourteen years, he pastored churches and served as an interstate missionary in Savannah, Decatur and Moultrie, Georgia. In 1982, God moved Clinton and his family to Gulf Breeze, Florida, to pastor Sea Breeze Baptist Church. He remained the pastor there until his retirement in 2015. During his time in West Florida, he finished his theological studies earning a Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate of Theology degree in 2006 from West Florida Baptist Institute while also serving as an instructor. He is the author of “Paul, Missionary of Free Grace” and “Early Church Expansion“. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, Pensacola. He loved his family, his former students, his church and his Lord. He was predeceased by his parents, Clinton Maroe and Rosella (Griffis) Mikell, two sisters, Jerlden Mikell and Edna (Mikell) Lightsey, his infant son, Richard Allen Mikell, and his nephew, Henry Clifton Barrow, Jr. Survivors are his wife of fifty-six years, Phnecia Bowman Mikell, of Gulf Breeze, FL; five children: Karen and Ray Meigs of Folsom, LA; Deborah and Greg Semore of Pensacola, FL; Paul and Angelina Mikell of Pensacola, FL; Stephen and Shannon Mikell of Covington, LA; and Amanda and Eain Semore of Pensacola, FL; thirteen grandchildren: Jennifer and Robert Smart, Jason and Jessica Perry, Joseph and Lauren Perry, Shannyn Mikell, Sarah and Jonathan Mattingly, Kaleb Mikell, Alexis and Logan Saint-Pierre, Matthew and Michael Meigs, Emma and Ethan Mikell, Eli and Leah Semore; and, seven great-grandchildren Garrett, Gabriella and Gianna Smart; Kalysta and Isabella Brown; Magdalene Perry and Asher Mattingly. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 16, 2018 at Bethel Baptist Church, Pensacola, FL, with Pastor Wayne Cooper, Bro. Larry Huffman, and Bro. Ray Meigs officiating. Interment will be at Rose Lawn Cemetery, Gulf Breeze, FL. Active pallbearers are his grandsons and grandsons-in-law: Jason Perry, Joey Perry, Kaleb Mikell, Matthew Meigs, Michael Meigs, Robert Smart, Jonathan Mattingly, and Logan Saint-Pierre. Honorary pallbearers are his grandsons: Ethan Mikell and Eli Semore; and his former students at West Florida Baptist Institute. Memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, Pensacola, Florida; Glenwood Baptist Youth Camp, Folsom, Louisiana; or West Florida Baptist Institute, Pensacola, Florida. The family would like to extend special thanks to Pastor Wayne Cooper and the members of Bethel Baptist Church; Kathy and Jestina of Granny Nannies; Kim and nurses of Covenant Hospice and Bro. Larry Huffman.

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Rev. James Clinton Mikell

March 22, 1944 - July 12, 2018