Glenford E. Mitchell

Glenford E. Mitchell
Born3 March 1935
St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica
Died7 February 2026
Dekatur, Georgia
EducationBA, MS
NSA memberUnited States
1968 - 1982
UHJ member1982 - 2008
NSA memberGlenford Mitchell
UHJ memberGlenford Mitchell
Spouse(s)Bahia (Deloomy) Mitchell
ChildrenTarissa Mitchell
 Works •  Media

Glenford Eckleton Mitchell (3 March 1935 - 7 February 2026) was a Jamaican-American Bahá’í who served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and the Universal House of Justice.

Biography[edit]

Born and raised[edit]

Mitchell was born in Jamaica in 1935 in the district of Brighton in St. Elizabeth Parish, one of the island nation’s fourteen parishes.[1] His experiences, at a private-commercial schools,[2] a newspaper office in Kingston, Jamaica's capital, and as ex-assistant editor of the staff magazine of Jamaica Omnibus Service.[1] While Mitchell certainly learned of the Faith from his uncle, William Mitchell, among the earliest Jamaican Bahá’ís, declaring in 1942,[3] during the First Seven Year Plan, Mitchell also encountered the religion through Randolph Fitz-Henley, who, through his son, reached Mitchell with his invention of "Panfrish", an attempt at a universal language.[4] In addition to other services, Fitz-Henley also attended the dedication of the Mother Temple of the West during the All-America Jubilee Centenial Intercontinental Conference marking the Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh which opened the Ten Year Plan.[5]

College, service, and career[edit]

Mitchell moved to North Carolina in the United States to attend HBCU Shaw University in the winter-spring 1957 session, supported by the Baptist Women's Convention of North Carolina, already presenting on the "oneness of mankind" at meetings.[6] He was part of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Raleigh, NC, being elected chairman.[7] This helped fulfill a US-specific goal of the Ten Year Plan to raise the number of assemblies from about 170 to 300 while at the same time joining in a world-wide expansion of the religion.[8] He was also visible that summer including giving the keynote talk for the "Race Amity Day" event, recalling the first conference which had been called for by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for 1921 in Washington, DC,[9] and at the local commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Báb.[10]

From 1958 he was annually noted as an honor student at Shaw,[11] became editor of the Shaw Journal,[12] served on the student legislature,[13] helped plan and present at civil rights conferences,[14] and other services at Shaw,[15] was a registered student counselor, on the Who's Who list, and an honored member of the student council.[16] Meanwhile, he often gave talks or was visible at Bahá'í events.[17] In 1959 articles under his by-line were published in The Carolinian,[18] (a newspaper serving the African American community,) including an autobiographical statement:

Glenford Eckieton Mitchell hails from the British West Indian island of Jamaica. Jamaica, with its area of 4,411 square miles, is the largest British possession in the West Indies. It has a population of about one and a half million. Called “The Land of Wood and Water,” Jamaica claimed recognition as one of the most enchanting playgrounds in the world and “the place where the rum comes from”.

A great portion of its revenue is derived from its staple products: rum cane sugar, and bananas, but the island enjoys a lucrative tourist trade all year round.

Jamaica recently achieved internal self-government and is a part of the backbone of the newly-formed West Indies Federation of which Barbados-born Sir Grantly Adams an Oxford trained barister, is the prime minister. Sir Gvantjey maintains a close connection with the city of Raleigh inasmuch as his sister-in-law, Dr. Marguerite M Adams, Counselor at Shaw University, resides here….

In January 1957, he enrolled at Shaw University. He is pursuing a double major in English and Business. Business training, he feels, is a necessity for everybody in these times. “It enables one to cope with this economy-conscious world in which we live.”

After his graduation from Shaw University next May, Glenford hopes to pursue a course in journalism at Syracuse University in New York. His dream is to establish a newspaper business in some virgin territory where newspapers do not exist. He plans to achieve this goal in Africa [or] some Latin-American country.

He finds America a very interesting place but has no intention of living here. He is convinced that his services and contributions to humanity can and will serve a greater purpose in underdeveloped areas. "In this age, we have to think in the broad terms of service to the world of humanity.” It is no wonder that Glenford is so determined to serve where the need is most urgent, because as a member of the Baha’i World Faith, he is taught that work in the spirit of service to humanity is worship.[1]

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business education from Shaw University in 1960.[19] In 1961 he was in New York still visible giving talks,[20] and pursing a Masters Degree at the Columbia School of Journalism where he was also admitted into the fraternity of those students.[21] He graduated in 1962,[22] the same year his co-authored book, The Angry Black South: Southern Negroes Tell Their Own Story, was published.[23] The book includes writings and interviews from six Black Americans on topics such as desegregation, college student activism, and the effects of racism; all focused on the overall theme of racial discrimination. At the same time, in 1962 Mitchell began his professional career in the publication industry working as the assistant editorial director of Maryknoll Publications, a non-profit Catholic-based institution, and becoming executive secretary of the Maryknoll Bookclub in New York, serving in both roles for one year, then working as an early assistant editor of the magazine Africa Report.[22]

Profession and Service[edit]

He continued to make appearances at Bahá'í events in various places, coming to be known as the chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Washington DC, serving on the National Teaching Committee, as well as being part of delegations or a contributing author to various works published by the religion,[24] as well as speaking at other venues.[25] Among these was the funeral of Ali Kuli Khan.[26] In 1966 he was employed as an instructor in English and Journalism at HBCU Howard University in Washington D.C. and in the Upward Bound program in Indiana State University in Terre Haute.[22]

National Service[edit]

Glenford E. Mitchell, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, at the St. Louis Conference

In 1967 Mitchell became the managing editor of the Bahá’í World Order Magazine and in 1968 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and served as Secretary. While serving on the National Assembly, Mitchell also served in a number of other capacities including as secretary of the Trustees of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, secretary of the board of directors of the Bahá’í Home in Wilmette, chairman of the National Teaching Committee, director of the National Department of Youth and Student Activities and still as chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Washington, D.C.[2] Among the larger events/projects that took place during his years of service of the National Assembly were the production of films:

  • A New Wind in 1969,[27]
  • It's Just the Beginning about the 1970 Bahá’í National Youth Conference in Wilmette, Illinois,[28]
  • Have You Hear the News in 1972 about the encounter of the Faith in South Carolina,[29]
    Mr. Glenford E. Mitchell (seated) and Dr. Daniel Jordan(standing), send greetings by ship-radio to the Unity Feast in Jamaica, aboard the S.S. New Bahama Star, May 20, 1971

and national conferences:

This was also the time of the national coverage of the persecution in Iran from 1979 with the Iranian Revolution.

He also made individual appearances or as representing the National Assembly,[33] and in addition, he also gave longer seminars or workshops.[34]

He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters by the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois, in 1980.[22][35]

International Service and retirement[edit]

In July 1982 Mitchell was elected to the Universal House of Justice as a replacement for the deceased Amoz Gibson in a by-election and moved to Haifa, Israel, to serve on the body.[22] He continued to be elected and served until retiring in 2008 and returned to the United States.[36] Both during service and in retirement he continue to write and give talks, (see below.)

He died February 7, 2026, in Decatur, Georgia, at the age of 90.[37] The Universal House of Justice penned the following message:

The passing of Glenford E. Mitchell from this earthly plane robs the Bahá’í world of an illustrious, accomplished, deeply spiritual servant of Bahá’u’lláh. We mourn the loss of our dearly loved former colleague with sorrowful hearts, calling to mind his penetrating powers of insight and uncommon good sense, to which he harnessed his compelling command of language—a combination of rare qualities that answered to so many demands during his membership of the Universal House of Justice. This period, stretching for more than a quarter century, crowned a lifetime of service and followed fourteen years in which he held the office of Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. During his life, his gifts of character, skill, and understanding served him well as a journalist, an author, and an inspirational educator of youth. From an early age, his heart and mind were galvanized by the writings of the beloved Guardian and the vision they encapsulated of a new World Order, founded on justice and operating according to the cardinal principle of the oneness of humanity. To this bright vision enshrined in the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh he dedicated his entire life.

We offer our condolences to his dear wife, Bahia, and his daughter, Tarissa, for their loss, and we assure them of our supplications that his noble soul may receive a joyous welcome in the eternal realm. The friends throughout the world are called upon to hold befitting memorial gatherings in his honour, including in every House of Worship.

The Universal House of Justice

In his personal life Mitchell was married to Bahia Deloomy and they had one daughter, Tarissa.[37] Deloomy served on the Winnetka Local Spiritual Assembly, service at the Baha'i House of Worship, and a career in pharmacy and medical chemistry.[38]

Publications[edit]

  • 1962 - Mitchell, Glenford E.; Peace, William H., III, eds. (1962). The Angry Black South: Southern Negroes Tell Their Own Story. New York: Corinth Books. OCLC 260008.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  • 1973 - Mitchell, Glenford E. (1973). "The Literature of Interpetation - Notes on the English Writings of Shoghi Effendi". World Order. 2. Vol. 7, no. 2. pp. 12–37. Retrieved Feb 22, 2026 – via Bahai.Works.
  • 1997 - Mitchell, Glenford E. (1997). "Shoghi Effendi: Guide for a New Millennium". Bahai.org. Retrieved Feb 22, 2026.
  • 2009 - Mitchell, Glenford E. (April 2009). "Bahá'í Administration". The Bahá'í Encyclopedia. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. https://www.bahai-encyclopedia-project.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67. Retrieved Feb 22, 2026. .

Talks[edit]

References[edit]

Bahai.media has a related page: Category:Glenford Mitchell
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mitchell, Glen (May 9, 1959). "Strangers From Foreign Lands - Their Presence Unnoticed Until Fame Comes". The Carolinian. Raleigh, N.C. p. 7. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via DigitalNC.org.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Glenford Mitchell new member of Universal House of Justice". The American Bahá'í. August 1982. p. 1. Retrieved Feb 22, 2026 – via Bahai.Works.
  3. ↑ Senior, Peter (1994). William Mitchell 1907-1985. An International Record. Vol. 19. Haifa, Israel: Universal House of Justice. pp. 684–685. ISBN 0853989982.
  4. ↑ Sawyer, Frank B (Aug 28, 1954). "West Indian Invents New World Language". The New York Age. New York, New York. p. 8. Retrieved Feb 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ See also * National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States (May 1952). "National Spiritual Assembly - As We Bahá'í Enter the Year of Jubilee". Baha'i News. pp. 4–5. Retrieved Feb 22, 2026 – via Bahai.Works.
  6. ↑ * Davis, LeRoy (Apr 30, 1957). "Activites of Colored People; Mass Meeting Sunday". The Sentinel. Winston-Salem, North Carolina. p. 13. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
    • "Mass Meeting Results". The Sentinel. Winston-Salem, North Carolina. May 6, 1957. p. 7. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Kolins, Steven (May 16, 2021). Stockman, Robert (ed.). "A North Carolina Bahá'í history 1850–2021 [inc seminar handout/PDF]". Webinars. WilmetteInstitute.org. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  8. ↑ Kolins, Steven (2025). Stockman, Robert (ed.). "The Increase in the Number of Local Spiritual Assemblies during the Ten Year Crusade in the Continental United States". Research Notes of the Corinne True Center for Bahá’í History. CorinneTrueCenter.org. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026.
  9. ↑ * "Around the City; A meeting, under the auspices…". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Jun 9, 1957. p. 14. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Baha'is to Commemorate Martyrdom of Prophet-Herald of Faith, The Bab". The Carolinian. Raleigh, N.C. July 6, 1957. p. 14. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via DigitalNC.org.
  11. ↑ * "75 Honor Students at Shaw U." The Carolinian. Raleigh, N.C. Aug 2, 1958. p. 7. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via DigitalNC.org.
  12. ↑ "Shaw Installs New Officers". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Sep 30, 1958. p. 18. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "At Student Legislature…". The Carolinian. Raleigh, N.C. March 26, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via DigitalNC.org.}
  14. ↑ * "Youth Leaders of Host City…". The Afro-American. Baltimore, Maryland. Apr 2, 1960. p. 16. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ * "Shaw University Library Stages Open House Here". The Carolinian. Raleigh, N.C. April 9, 1960. p. 3 – via DigitalNC.org.
  16. ↑ *"Ten Shaw U. Students in 'Who's Who'". The Carolinian. Raleigh, N.C. Nov 21, 1959. p. 10. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via DigitalNC.org.
  17. ↑ * "Baha'is to Observe Founder's Birthday". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Nov 8, 1958. p. 14. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ * Mitchell, Glenford E (April 18, 1959). "A "Long Road" Nears End". The Carolinian. Raleigh, N.C. p. 13. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via DigitalNC.org.
  19. ↑ "110 Receive Degrees as Shaw U Graduates Hear Fred A Seaton". The Carolinian. Raleigh, N.C. May 28, 1960. p. 3. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via DigitalNC.org.
  20. ↑ "Church News; Services at…". The Villager. NY, NY. 2 February 1961. p. 6. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via NYSHistoricNewspapers.org.
  21. ↑ * "Columbia journalism student to seek fortune in Nigeria". The Afro-American. Baltimore, Maryland. Dec 16, 1961. p. 12. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 "World Centre; Glenford Mitchell elected to serve on the Universal House of Justice". Baha'i News. Sep 1982. p. 1. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Bahai.Works.
  23. ↑ * Mitchell, Glenford E.; Peace, William H., III, eds. (1962). The Angry Black South: Southern Negroes Tell Their Own Story. New York: Corinth Books. OCLC 260008.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
    • also available online at Mitchell, Glenford E.; Peace, William H., III, eds. (1962). The Angry Black South: Southern Negroes Tell Their Own Story. New York: Corinth Books. OCLC 644154071.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  24. ↑ * "Race Amity Day". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, South Dakota. Jun 13, 1964. p. 4. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ * "School Boycott Stories Run Deep, Writers Told". Evening Star. Washington (DC). Apr 21, 1965. p. 31. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  26. ↑ "Death of 'Ali Kuli Khan, Early Translator of Bahá'í Texts, Announced". Baha'i News. Jun 1966. p. 4. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Bahai.Works.
  27. ↑ George Stoney (1969). A New Wind (film). South Carolina: National Spiritual Assembly of the United States – via Joyce and Arthur Dahl.
  28. ↑ It's Just the Beginning (film). Wilmette, IL: National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. 1970 – via Kiva Films. Copy courtesy of David Walker of Kiva Films.
  29. ↑ Have You Heard the News (film). South Carolina and Jamaica: Kiva Films, Inc for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States. 1972.
  30. ↑ The Universal House of Justice (May 1971). "To the Friends of God gathered in the Caribbean Conference". Bahai.org. Retrieved Feb 22, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Baha'i Faith Caribbean Conference". The Atlanta Voice. Atlanta, Georgia. Jun 19, 1971. p. 13. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "Caribbean Conference Resounding Success!" (PDF). The American Bahá'í. June 1971. pp. 1–3, 6–7. Retrieved Feb 22, 2026 – via Bahai.Works.
  33. ↑ * "Banquet Honors Workers for Human Rights". Baha'i News. Feb 1969. pp. 3–4. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026 – via Bahai.Works.
  34. ↑ * "Baha'i Faith leader to speak". The Houston Post. Houston, Texas. Apr 11, 1970. p. 70. Retrieved Feb 25, 2026.
  35. ↑ See "National College of Education, Evanston, Il,". Retrieved Feb 22, 2026 – via Digital Library of Georgia.
  36. ↑ "Leaving after many years of service in the Holy Land". Bahá'í World News Service. Haifa, Israel: Bahá'í World Centre. April 23, 2008. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Glenford E. Mitchell, 1935–2026". Bahá'í World News Service. Haifa, Israel: Bahá'ís World Centre. Feb 6, 2026. Retrieved Feb 19, 2026.
  38. ↑ * "Bahai(sic) Group to Hear Assembly Leader". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. Jun 11, 1967. p. 64. Retrieved Feb 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
    • "Baha'is to have Speaker". The Daily Chronicle. De Kalb, Illinois. Jan 19, 1970. p. 5. Retrieved Feb 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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