John Jett Mitchell, 76, who for decades was the top insurance salesman for Supreme Life Insurance Co.–once one of the nation’s largest African-American owned insurance companies, died of multiple myeloma Saturday, Oct. 13, in the University of Chicago Hospitals.
Mr. Mitchell, known as “J.J.” to many of his clients, sold insurance to thousands of people, particularly in African-American communities, during his 42 years with Supreme Life, said his son Charles. On several occasions, he sold more than $250,000 in insurance in a year’s time–no small feat given the modest income of many of his clients, his son said.
“What he liked was the ability to serve an underserved market,” said his son. “He would go places where other folks wouldn’t go.”
The gregarious salesman even sold a number of his customers on becoming insurance agents themselves. “He could talk about selling insurance in such a way that he could get anyone excited about it,” his son said.
A resident of the South Shore neighborhood for 35 years, Mr. Mitchell grew up in Bivins, Texas, and at the age of 15 moved to nearby Jefferson, Texas, to attend a better high school. In 1945, Mr. Mitchell came to Chicago to study at Roosevelt University, and in 1949 started selling insurance.
He retired from the company in 1991, but soon started his own independent insurance agency, where he worked until he died–even selling insurance from his hospital room.
He was an active member of St. John Church-Baptistand volunteered with several civic and social organizations, including the Parent Teacher Association, Operation PUSH, the Urban League and his neighborhood block club.
Other survivors include his wife of 52 years, Ruth; another son, Walter; a daughter, Helen Mitchell-Carter; five brothers, Harold, Wendell, Waylon, Huey and Charles; two sisters, Franzelle Mitchell and Eleanor Bassett; and three grandchildren.
A wake will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. John Church-Baptist, 4821 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, followed by services at 11 a.m. in the church.
