Juba Fulonni

Juba was born July 27, 1950 in Birmingham, Alabama to Ollie Dell Mitchell and Leo Mitchell, I.  He passed away, quietly in his sleep on the evening of Sunday, October 30th.  He was the oldest of eight children.  At a young age, he accepted Christ as his personal savior.

In 1976, Juba felt the need for a name change from Leo Mitchell, II to Juba Fulonni.  He remained in contact with sisters, Robin Mitchell (VA), Wanda Hardy (Stockton, CA) and Pat Mitchell (Las Vegas, NV), as well as brothers, Bruce Mitchell (Stockton, CA) and Ronnie (CA).

In 1969, he graduated from Edison High School in Stockton, California.    While in the  Bay Area, he became a jazz drummer. He continued drumming for the next 40 years.  His love for music opened the doors for him to become a DJ.  Painting was an art form he enjoyed and developed a personal taste for oriental art expression.

In the early seventies Juba moved to Portland, Oregon where he attended Portland State University, studying Psychology.  At a different location, he pursued the study of  Law for about two years. His life work was in the medical insurance field as an employee of Blue Cross/Blue Shield for 35 years.  It was during one of his bus rides to work that he met “the love of his life,” Faye Northcutt.  There was a timely “courtship” before they married on June 16, 2001.  He was welcomed by his stepdaughter Kimberly Northcutt-Giles and the rest of the members of the family.  

He loved to cook and was good at it; his specialty was enchiladas.  “People watching” at the park and an annual vacation to the coast was something he looked forward to with his loving wife.  They enjoyed vacations in Lincoln City and Bend, Oregon.

Juba attended New Song Community Church where he enjoyed the worship, hearing the word and fellowshipping with those of the congregation.  He will surely be missed by them, as well as many relatives, former co-workers, and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Leo Mitchell, I and Ollie Dell Mitchell; two brothers, two sisters and son, Leo Mitchell, III.

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