Jerniece Denaye Mitchell-Plattenburg was born on September 7, 1955, in Wharton, Texas, to Willene Mitchell-Hicks and Alvin Matthews. For the first 13 years of her life, she was raised on the family farm by her grandparents, Eldridge and Gertrude Mitchell, along with her two sisters, Patsy and Barbara.

During her childhood, Jerniece joined St. James AME Church, where she became an active member of the youth choir. Under the direction of Annette Harris, she sang her very first solo, marking the beginning of her love for music.

She attended J.H. Speaker Elementary, J.D. Ryan Middle School, and Jack Yates Senior High School, where she graduated with honors.

On December 27, 1994, Jerniece married the love of her life, Morris Plattenburg. Their union was one of deep friendship, unwavering support, and genuine love. Through every season, she stood faithfully by his side, offering quiet strength, tenderness, and unshakable devotion. They had a love that endured all things.

Her professional journey concluded at the Internal Revenue Service in Houston, Texas, where she worked faithfully as an administrator for 36 years before retiring on December 31, 2018.

In the early morning hours of Monday, July 14, 2025, a quiet and holy transition took place. As the world continued its gentle turning, the heavens softly opened. The angels of the Lord, faithful and obedient, took flight. With grace beyond words, they descended to earth and tenderly gathered the spirit of our beloved Jerniece. With reverence, they lifted her from the temporal into the eternal, escorting her through the veil and into the warm, golden light of the heavenly realms. There, she was welcomed not with sorrow but with celebration, embraced by the presence of the Almighty God Himself.

The burdens and pain of this world have fallen away, replaced now by peace, joy, and unspeakable glory. Though her earthly chapter has closed, her legacy continues. She will now forever be held in Heaven's embrace.

Jerniece is preceded in death by her mother, Willene Hicks; father, Alvin Matthews; stepfather, Doyle Hicks; sister, Barbara Hollinger; nephew, DeUndre Johnson; and grandparents, Eldridge and Gertrude Mitchell.

She leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband, Morris Plattenburg; her son, Charleston Mitchell (Rhonda); her sister, Patsy Brown; her brothers, Trence (LaTricia) and Lamonte Hicks; her beloved grandchildren, Cade and Cara Mitchell; her nieces, Brianna Johnson-Jenkins (Melvin) and Camille Hollinger-O'Quinn (Jacob); her nephews, Bruce Brown, Alvin Hollinger III, and William Hicks; her cousins, Marjorie Brown, Billy L. McCanick, Airy Hatton (Rayvelt), Carlos Jackson, and Michael Jackson; and a host of friends and extended family who will continue to celebrate the light she brought into their lives.