Mr. Nelson G. Mitchell III spent his 24 years growing up in the Okemah community. Mitchell is not retired but has dedicated his talents to communication roles as a writer and editor for a multitude of projects.
Mr. Nelson G. Mitchell the III was born on July the 15th 1953 in Phoenix, Arizona. His father, Nelson G. Mitchell Jr. enlisted in the Navy in 1940 before moving to Arizona. Mitchell’s father N. G. married his mother Fannie Lee Epps and in 1948 came to Phoenix. They raised Mitchell and his two siblings close to historic Okemah. Mitchell grew up on a small farm raising cows and chickens and of course, learning how to fish. Mitchell remembers his interest in writing started around middle school.
At the time, South Phoenix had been participating in the national Equal Rights Movement. Mitchell recounts attending South Mountain High School and remembers a cop car being turned over, student arrests, and fires in trashcans.
Mr. Nelson Mitchell the III was a very avid writer since he was in middle school. This passion led him all throughout high school to which he joined the speech and debate club as well as participated in a newspaper team outside of school. Being a part of that newspaper club Mitchell had his first mentor Richard Harris who taught him the values of the Equal Rights Movement and the events of South Phoenix at the time.
After almost 24 years of being a writer and editor for various companies; Salt River Project, Maricopa County, and the Phoenix Zoo to name a few Mitchell finally settled down. Mitchell’s fond memories of South Phoenix history mainly come from his father who adored photography and took photos of South Phoenix. Mr. Nelson Mitchell was able to recount the building of the interstate highway (I-10) in the early 1960s which claimed part of the Mitchell residence. Okemah’s history and the legacy of the Mitchells intertwine as a part of South Phoenix forever.
Nelson G. Mitchell the III a historic figure of the Okemah history has contributed his gifts to metropolitan Phoenix his entire life. With his love for writing, he has participated in support of the voices of the Black community in Okemah throughout his time as an undergrad.
| Narrator | Nelson Mitchell, III |
| Birthdate | July 5, 1953 |
| Place of Origin | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Place of Residence | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Role | Retired – Writer, Editor, Public information officer, community relations professional, educational outreach supervisor, and volunteer program manager |
| Years active in South Phoenix | 1950s- |
| Interview Date | January 31, 2024 |
| Location | South Mountain Community College |
| Duration | 1:42:49 |
| Interviewed by | Faculty Researcher: Dr. Summer Cherland |
| Story Written by | Student Researcher: Juliene Pilar |
South Phoenix Oral History Project 