Viola Mitter

Life Reflections

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A time to be born; Viola Beatrice Hall was born the first of four children to Elsie Mozella Staten Hall and Fisher Franklin Hall on July 26, 1940 in Manhattan, New York.

A time to die; Viola was ushered peacefully into God’s arms on August 3, 2021 at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, New Jersey.

A time to get; Viola grew up in Harlem New York and when she was a teenager the family moved from New York to Cliffwood, New Jersey. She graduated from Matawan High School.

A time to love; Viola was joined in Holy Matrimony to Roland Punkin Mitter on October 24, 1959, until the time of his passing in 1996.

A time to sow; They poured love into and nurtured seven loving children Michelle Alecia, Kevin Darrell, Donna Lee, Tina Marie, Kim Viola, Steven Roland, and Darnell Maurice, whom she loved and whom they loved “more”.

A time to gather stones together; Viola was employed by New York Girls Coat Factory and Sunshine Biscuits.  However, her great passion and most satisfying work was with children.  She worked at Cliffwood Elementary School, where she was among the original group of staff to initiate the Title I Head Start Program back in the 70’s. She also worked at the Lloyd Road School, Bayshore School, Ravine Drive School and at the Monmouth Day Care Center in Red Bank.  She retired from the Matawan School District after 28 years of dedicated service. She loved to care for and encourage all the children she encountered throughout the years not just in the school system but also with the many, many children (and parents) that had the privilege to grace her doorstep during her babysitting years.

A time of peace; Viola was introduced to the Lord when she attended church with her parents at Second Baptist Church in Matawan. She later joined the former Second Baptist Church in Perth Amboy in 1985 under the leadership of Reverend Donald Hilliard Jr. now the Cathedral International where she has been guided and shepherded by “her Bishop”, for the last 38 years, whom she loved dearly along with his family. We joked because she would hang their Christmas card front and center every year for all to see because they were her family too. She may not have been the loudest saint but her love for that church, her Bishop and the Lord rang loud to the gates of Heaven.

A time to speak and a time to keep; The way she lived can speak to the testament of her life. A wonderful, blessed woman of God! Viola was a caring, strong courageous, generous loving soul who lived a life in dignity and grace and kept the needs of others always before her own. She always had a genuine, radiant smile and hug to give to anyone she thought needed it. She made a point to always tell everyone she loved them – often and meant it!  She gave love like oxygen! 

A time to weep and a time to lose; She was predeceased in death by her parents Elsie and Fisher Hall, Husband Roland Punkin Mitter, two sons Steven Roland and Kevin Darrell, son in law Anthony Tony Smith Sr., grandson Walter TJ Hicks III and Perry S. Wright (PJ), granddaughter Cetavia (Tay) Mitter and great granddaughter Kiara Mitter.

A time to mourn; Viola leaves to continue her legacy and cherish her many wonderful memories four daughters, Michelle Jones, Donna Mitter, Tina Wright, Kim Smith; one son, Darnell Mitter; one devoted sister, Beverly Gutridge. two brothers, Franklin Hall and devoted brother Fisher “Rick” Hall; grandchildren, Dametria Hardwick, Damar Hicks, Akeia Mitter, Kimberly Jones, Anthony “Tony” Smith Jr., Keron Mitter, Nahjeek Mitter, Christopher Wright, Maxwell Mitter, Corey Jones and Kristen Jones; great grandchildren, Tyler Hicks, Kiandre Mitter, Natalia Hicks, Akhyia Mitter, Kassidy Mitter and Ezra Jones; daughters in love Carlette Mitter and Anna Mitter; sons in love Perry Wright and Richard Jones; sisters in love; Carol(Ca) Mitter, Willie Pearl Gumbs, Linda Mitter Robinson, Maxine Cheatum Mitter and Kim Hall; brothers in love Joseph Gutridge and Richard Jones; nieces and nephews; Franklin Hall Jr., Joseph Gutridge Jr., Dwayne Gutridge., Audra Gutridge, Eric Gutridge, Alvin Mark Gutridge Sr., Nancy Blue, Dawn Hall, Regina Mitter Clark, Gerald Mitter, Terrance Mitter, Nina Mitter, Lesley Mercado, Craig Mitter, Walter Mitter Jr., Dorell Mitter, Durand Cheatum, Yolanda Mitter, Demond Mitter and Malik Gumbs; fur grand dogs Ka$h, Royal and Dillon Chandler and grand guinea pig Ginger; sister-best friend Eula “Honey Bunches of O’s” Williams and dear friend Carol Jackson and a host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and friends. 

A time to heal; As we go forth through this journey called life without our beloved Queen we will hold fast in this time to embrace one another and trust in the God she so dearly loved. It is never goodbye, but always So Long. 

As we reflect on her blessed life, we’d be remiss to leave out her passion for always having her hair slayed. Her standing appointments with Mala were always the highlight of her week. Her hair was her crown that she displayed proudly. And in her fashion, we do not say Goodbye but So Long and we leave you with an emoji 

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