Raeford Earl Mitchell

Raeford Earl Hooker-Mitchell “Man/Rae/DJSugarae” was born in Columbus, Ohio, to Willow Mae "Billie" Mitchell and Raeford Earl Hooker. He was a people person and loved by everyone that graced his presence. Man was a graduate from North Adult High School and later worked in the Banking/Financial fields and as an Income Tax Consultant. Music was second nature to Man; he became a rapper and a DJ early in life. He loved being a DJ and playing different genres of music, which is where he got his handle DJSugarae. You could often find him playing at the Diva Den, Flames Motorcycle Club and various clubs and parties in Columbus and the surrounding area. Man always loved good party with family and friends. He was a big hit at our family reunion’s taking us back to the days of yesterday and Blue Monday especially during COVID when he performed Blue Monday from his home. Rae enjoyed all kinds of sports. Playing them in his younger years with the fellows and watching them on TV in his later years. Two of his favorite football teams were: The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Dallas Cowboys. He also favored the Los Angeles Lakers and Ohio State Basketball teams. When those teams played, they got his full attention. 

Rae loved his family very much and from the very beginning of his life you could always find him around his first cousin’s (the Featherstone’s). The relationship he had with Jeffery, June, Robin and David was extremely close (you really had to be there). Man loved and cared for his children more than anything. They could do no wrong in his eyesight. And if you criticized them, you were no longer on speaking terms with him and that could last a while. He cared for them until his last breath on earth and we know he is watching over them now.

Man suffered from a long-term illness known as Muscular Dystrophy and other complications, Ralph, Cody and Andre were with him at the beginning of his decline. In the final months of Man’s life, his daughter, Artesha took excellent care of him and tended to his every need along with nighttime nurse Tequila. Man passed away at The Ohio State University Hospital East on Friday, November 1, 2024, and went home to be with his Father. 

He is preceded in death by his mother Willow Mae Mitchell, father, Raeford Earl Hooker, brother Martin Lee Mitchell, sister, Alysia Rae Underwood, brother-in-law Elisha “Eli” Jones, III, and sister-in law Paulette Marie Mitchell. 

Man leaves to mourn in his absence his children: Artesha Saultz, Andre Mitchell, Andrea Mitchell, Artie Smith, Teniqua Smith, Raeford Mitchell and Grand-children too numerous to mention. Brother Charles Allen Mitchell, sister Crystal Eloise Jones, sister Cynthia Janet Ward (Derrick) brother William Allen Mitchell Hooker, brother Ralph Carter (Alexis), a host other family relatives and friends too numerous to mention. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he interacted with as well as the lives he touched but never met. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.