LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Professor Lilton Mitchell upon the
occasion of his designation for special recognition by the Bethel
Baptist Church

WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life in
this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the faithful
concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their energies
and purpose to the ministry of others; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to bring full
recognition and just tribute to those individuals who distinguish them-
selves and the ministry through their unremitting commitment and preemi-
nence of service; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Professor
Lilton Mitchell upon the occasion of his designation for special recog-
nition by the Bethel Baptist Church at a Tribute on Saturday, April 9,
2016, and at a Roast on Sunday, April 10, 2016, at the Bethel Baptist
Church in Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, Lilton Mitchell, fondly known to most as Dickie Mitchell, was
born in Baltimore, Maryland; after finishing high school, his family
moved to Pasadena, California; and
WHEREAS, While a resident of California, Lilton Mitchell attended
Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in Organic Chemistry;
he also attended the University of California in Los Angeles as an
English/History major and, later studied Political Science at Morgan
State University in Baltimore, Maryland; and
WHEREAS, In 1949, Professor Lilton Mitchell received a call from his
uncle, the late Joe Bostic in New York City, to come and assist him in
the promotion of the First Gospel Concert to be held in Carnegie Hall;
the presentation featured renowned gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson and
other great gospel stars such as the Clara Ward Singers, the Davis
Sisters, the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Five Blind Boys and the Roberta
Martin Singers; and
WHEREAS, Professor Lilton Mitchell soon began promoting a series of
mammoth gospel presentations that took place not only in Carnegie Hall,
but also in Madison Square Garden, Randall's Island Stadium, the Colise-
um, the Philadelphia Met Theatre, the Savoy Ballroom and numerous music
halls throughout the Northeast; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the concerts, Professor Lilton Mitchell became
a fixture on the "Joe Bostic Gospel Train," a daily radio program that
became the hallmark for good gospel music radio in the New York area;
his organ playing on the radio, and the subsequent television show, was
a familiar and vital part of the overall presentation and the exposure
which enabled him to meet and work with Mahalia Jackson, one of the
greatest names in traditional gospel music; and
WHEREAS, While on tour, Professor Lilton Mitchell played for Mahalia
Jackson at Yale University, the Concert Hall in Boston, the Newport Jazz
Festival, the Place des Arts in Montreal, Quebec, and Constitution Hall
in Washington, D.C.; in addition, he accompanied her on the organ when
she sang at the Martin Luther King Jr. "March on Washington"; and
WHEREAS, After serving his country as a member of the United States
Armed Forces in the early 1950s, Professor Lilton Mitchell returned to
the New York area and became the organist at the Abyssinian Baptist
Church in Newark, New Jersey, where he worked with the Banks Brothers,
Professor Alex Bradford and Leon Lumpkins of the Gospel Clefs; and
WHEREAS, In 1968, Professor Lilton Mitchell became the Minister of
Music at the Bethel Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York, which is known

for being the second black church in the borough of Brooklyn that was
built by blacks from the ground up; and
WHEREAS, Professor Lilton Mitchell worked at the Bethel Daycare Center
for over 37 years as Vice President, President and Secretary and was
employed by the late Reverend W. J. Hall, the Senior Pastor of Bethel
Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Professor Lilton Mitchell was retained by the late
Reverend Dr. H. DeVore Chapman and became the Senior Pastor of Bethel
Baptist Church; he retired under the leadership of newly installed
Pastor, Reverend C. Ramont Morris, on Saturday, January 16, 2016; and
WHEREAS, On January 1, 2016, Professor Lilton Mitchell celebrated his
48th year as the Minister of Music at Bethel Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Sandra, their three
children, Denise (Rodney) Harrison, Keith and Kyle, and two grandchil-
dren, Derin and Kazmier, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his
life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Professor Lilton Mitchell has brought to his ministry an
overwhelming spirit of charity and compassion, acting from vision and
enlightenment in conducting his musical and spiritual duties, while
always displaying the highest standards of personal and professional
integrity and dedication; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is
appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that indi-
vidual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Professor Lilton Mitchell upon the occasion of his designation
for special recognition by the Bethel Baptist Church; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Professor Lilton Mitchell.