Gladys L. Mitchell-Hester was born June 20, 1937 in Shuqualak, Mississippi to the late Grady Lipkin Sr., and Cora (McQueen) Lipkin.

Gladys was a member of First Baptist Church of Lakeland where she served on the Trustee Board and Nurse Guile. She retired from Sullair Corporation. Gladys loved gardening, spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Gladys L. Mitchell-Hester departed this life on June 7, 2017 at Regency Hospital in Portage, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her two children, Patricia Mitchell and Leon Mitchell; one brother, Joe Lipkin.

She leaves to cherish her fond memories, one daughter, Kathy Martin of Michigan City, Indiana; one son, Bruce (Sandra) Mitchell of Portage, Indiana; one sister, Clytee Murray of Bolingbrook, Illinois; two brothers, James (Pressie) Lipkin of Flint, Michigan and Grady Lipkin Jr. of Macon, Mississippi; two special friends, Geraldine Howard and Ernest Hester; ten grandchildren; twenty-three great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren; a host of relatives and friends.