Baha’i House of Worship hosts memorial for Glenford E. Mitchell

Glenford E. Mitchell, a former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away at home on February 7, 2026.

A memorial service will be held at the Bahá’í House of Worship on the evening of Saturday, April 11, beginning at 7:00 p.m. central time with devotions in the Auditorium, and followed by a program of remembrance in Foundation Hall, on the Temple’s lower level.

Additionally, the program will also be livestreamed through the Bahá’í House of Worship’s YouTube channel. The video will become active when the remembrance program begins around 7:30 p.m. central on April 11, and will remain so thereafter.

Broadcast Link: Youtube

Mitchell was born on March 3, 1935, in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. His life was a sterling example of the spirit and Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, of which he was a devoted and distinguished member. He was widely known as a tireless champion of the Bahá’í principles of unity and oneness of all humankind.

He served the Bahá’í community with distinction for decades. First, as director of the Department of College and Youth Activities at the Bahá’í National Center, then as the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States from 1968 to 1982, and finally, as a member of the Universal House of Justice from 1982 to 2008. 

A gifted writer, Mitchell’s career in journalism and publishing was extensive and influential. He served as managing editor of World Order magazine for more than a decade, assistant editor of Africa Reports magazine from 1963 to 1966, assistant editorial director of Maryknoll Publications, and co-editor of The Angry Black South in 1962. He was editor of the Shaw Journal at Shaw University from 1957 to 1960.

An eloquent speaker and inspiring educator, he served as an instructor of English and journalism at Howard University in Washington, D.C. from 1966 to 1967. His passion for working with youth and guiding them toward a constructive purpose was a lifelong preoccupation. 

Glen, as he was known to his many friends, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Shaw University in 1960, where he was named to the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society and was closely involved in the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a major avenue for student engagement in the Civil Rights Movement. He was also recognized in the honors program, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Mitchell went on to receive a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in 1962. In recognition of his contributions to literature and human service, he was awarded an honorary doctor of letters from the National College of Education in Illinois in 1980.

Artistically, Glenford Mitchell was a brilliant photographer who sought to portray spiritual traces of divine creation in elements of nature. He also had a deep love of music, especially jazz, which he regarded as modern classical music.

This brief portrait of Glenford Mitchell’s life would be incomplete without mention of his beloved wife of 53 years, Dr. Bahia Mitchell, whose loving care during his long illness brought dignity, joy and comfort to his final chapter. Their daughter, Dr. Tarissa Mitchell, was a constant source of gratitude, joy, and pride.