Saltville, Va.

Helen Marie "Mitzie" Cardwell, age 64, passed away Friday, May 1, 2026 at Deer Meadows Rehabilitation and Nursing in Abingdon following a brief illness.  Mitzie was born April 18, 1962 to Ryburn Cardwell and the late Brenda Cardwell.  Mitzie was a graduate of R. B. Worthy High School and Virginia Highlands Community College School of Nursing.  She worked at Smyth County OB/GYN, Smyth County Community Hospital, and Johnston Memorial Hospital.  During her childhood, Mitzie attended Cardwell Town Freewill Baptist Church.

She enjoyed spending time with her son Derek traveling and attending barrel races.  Mitzie enjoyed riding horses, loved going to the beach, and being a "daddy's girl", she loved going hunting and horse trading with her dad, Ryburn.

Including her mother, Brenda Cardwell, she was also preceded in death by her sister, Lynn Hamm.

Those left to cherish her memory is her son, Derek Austin Coleman (Zeb Miller); her father, Roy Ryburn Cardwell; grandchildren, Keelan, Jaxson, Sailor, and Bentley; nephew, Jared Hamm; great niece, Sophie Hamm; and her aunt, Ann Rector and husband Jim; special friends Cristal Litton and Bill Griffey; and several cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Cardwell Town Freewill Baptist Church with Pastor Mark Baumgardner officiating.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 6:00 prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cardwell Town Freewill Baptist Church, 238 Cardwell Town Road, Saltville, VA 24370, or to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences may be made at drhendersonfuneralhome.com. The D.R. Henderson Funeral Home is serving the family of Helen Marie "Mitzie" Cardwell.