Obituary of Loretta Jane Briscoe

Loretta Jane “Janie” Briscoe (of Dover, DE), at age 76 passed away peacefully on December 19, 2018, with her granddaughter by her side in New Castle, DE. 

Janie was born November 13, 1942 in Kenton, DE and was the daughter of George Thomas “Tommy” Mitchell, Sr and the late Louvinia “Mom Beadie” Mitchell.   She graduated from Louis L. Redding High School in June of 1961, where she met and married the late Clarence “Leroy” Briscoe on February 13, 1962.

Janie was a Counselor at Salvation Army for 10 years, where she provided homeless men with employment resources, determined eligibility and approved cash assistance, and gave referrals for other basic necessities.    She also worked at Wilmington Hospital in the Dietary Department for 8 years. 

Janie was a Member of Mt. Olive Pentecostal Church, in Smyrna, DE, where she loved to sing in the church choir.  She loved and had a special relationship with God; and she loved to praise the Lord with her father, “Tommy”. 

Janie loved to spend quality time with family and friends.  She loved to help others and show her love by doing little things for love ones; such as always calling or sending a card on love one’s “special occasions”.  She loved to go shopping (especially at Boscov’s) and she loved going out to eat; especially at Smyrna Diner and Golden Corral. 

Janie was preceded in death by her mother Louvinia Mitchell; daughters Diana R. Briscoe and Delisa S. Jones; her husband, Leroy Briscoe, and her niece Carla “Piggy” Gadsen.

Janie leaves to cherish her wonderful memories; her loving and devoted father George Thomas “Tommy” Mitchell, Sr.; her supportive and loving grand-daughter, LaKeesha D. Ward (Semaj); her loving great-granddaughter, Semaya Deleena Dallas Ward; her loving brother George T. Mitchell, Jr.; her supportive and loving Aunts Joan G. Mitchell and Barbara Mitchell-Williams; her loving cousins Betty Mitchell, Deborah Wright, Betty-Jean Waterman, and Dorothy “Pudding” Guy; her loving god-Sister Delores Milbourne; her devoted niece Regina Gadsen; and her good friends Elder Ruthenia Tukes and Florence Smith.  With devotion and love, Janie is survived by a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren, and very good friends.