Jackie Mizelle

RALEIGH - Jackie Mizelle has been bravely battling breast cancer since her diagnosis in 2012. Her valiant fight with metastatic breast cancer ended on March 4, 2021, two days after her 75th birthday. She was born in Raleigh at Mary Elizabeth Hospital to Ann Hatley and John Milton Bennett. She attended Myrtle Underwood Elementary School, Hugh Morson Junior High, and Broughton High School (class of 1963) and graduated from Peace College. In 1964, she married Donnie (“Don”) Mizelle, her high school sweetheart, and had two children (Melissa, in 1967, and Sam “Chip” in 1969). Don was an entrepreneur, and Jackie balanced her work of supporting Don’s businesses with being a full-on mom, never missing an opportunity to help with field trips, school functions or scouting events, or to attend soccer, baseball, and softball games, piano recitals, and band concerts. She hosted innumerable family functions celebrating anything and everything, and made sure everyone know how much they were loved. Jackie was widowed suddenly in 1987, and immediately embarked on a career in real estate. She became a Realtor in 1988 and enjoyed an extremely successful and personally rewarding career. She retired in 2012 when she started treatment for breast cancer, electing to spend more time with family. Jackie married Bert Sult in 1993. They traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad, loved to try new restaurants while continuing to support tried-and-true favorites, and attend art exhibits (often featuring Bert’s watercolors) and concerts. Jackie was a beautiful, powerful, brilliant, successful, driven woman with a strong personality, an enviable “way” with people—all people—and endless compassion for anyone, especially persons experiencing homelessness and other societal injustices and disparities. She had a passion for entertaining and loved nothing more than to welcome friends to her home for an amazing evening of unparalleled hospitality. Jackie had an impeccable sense of style, loved all animals, and maintained lifelong friendships. She appreciated good wine, live music, and a quick wit. She loved gardening, reading, cooking, dancing, watching baseball (Yankees) and Alabama football (Roll Tide!), and having a “system” for EVERYTHING. Jackie is survived and missed desperately by her husband Bert, her children Sam and Melissa, her (perfect!) grandchildren Tyler (age 11) and Emma (age7), and daughter-in-law Katy. She also had lots of wonderful friends in her life, including some she held especially dear… among them Melvin, Lynn, Kevin, and Julie… you know who you are. A celebration of Jackie’s life will be held at 6:00 PM on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at Trinity Baptist Church, located at 4815 Six Forks Road, Raleigh. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to North Raleigh Ministries or the Food Bank of NC, or any non-profit organization of your choosing. The family extends heartfelt gratitude for the providers at Duke Cancer Center Raleigh and Transitions Life Care. If you or someone you love is due for a mammogram, please make sure it gets scheduled. Arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com