Catherine Lillie Mikell

Catherine Lillie Mikell was born on November 21, 1937 to the union of George & Vivian Burke in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was the first of seven siblings. Catherine received most of her public education in Louisiana and graduated from Fremont High School in Los Angeles, California.

Catherine met and married the love of her life, Lennie Mikell, of Los Angeles, California on July 31, 1955. They were married for 46 years until Lennie was promoted to heaven in July 2001. To this union their two daughters, Darlene and Linda were born.

Catherine worked in various vocations during her lifetime. She served in a voluntary position as President of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) where her two children attended elementary school. Catherine later applied for a position with the LAUSD and was a Teacher’s Aid for approximately 20 years. After retiring from the school district, she applied for and was hired as an Administrative Assistant at the JVC Kenwood Corporation in Long Beach, California. Her last move in her career prior to full retirement was in the position of an Administrative Assistant at the historic Paradise Baptist Church in Los Angeles, CA.

At a young age, Catherine took a liking to sewing, making hats and adding handmade flowers to decorate those fabulous hats. Catherine would sew clothes for herself and her daughters and would dress them from head to toe in what was her vision of adorable mother/daughter look alike fashions. She nurtured both of them to be creative and encouraged them to make use of their creative talents.

After a period of illness lasting some 4 years, on Tuesday, December 29, 2025, the Lord called her from her earthly address in Rancho Cucamonga to her heavenly home.

Catherine leaves to cherish her memory Darlene Mikell and Linda Mikell Hoyt, one son-in-love, Robie Hoyt; two sisters, Mabel Morris and Jeanette Porter; one brother, Michael Burke (Jackie); three brothers-in-love, Kenneth Husband (Jean) and Ron Husband (LaVonne) and Bradford Burke; sister-in-love, Lonnie Jean Mikell and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and dear friends. Catherine will be dearly missed.

Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband Lennie, three sisters; Emily, Zona and Brenda, one brother George and one brother in-love Shelby.