TRA Statement on the Loss of Thy Mitchell, Greater Houston Chapter Board Member

TRA Statement on the Loss of Thy Mitchell, Greater Houston Chapter Board Member

AUSTIN, TX (May 6, 2026) - We stand with the Greater Houston hospitality community as we try to process the horrific deaths of Thy Mitchell and her family. To say that Thy will be missed is an understatement. She served on the board of the Greater Houston Chapter of the TRA, and she was selected by her peers to represent the chapter as Greater Houston Restaurateur of the Year for 2025. We will remember Thy as a ray of light who inspired everyone around her.

Our leaders in Houston have reached out to the team at Traveler's Table and Traveler's Cart, and we stand ready to help in any way that we can. We also want to encourage anyone who needs assistance processing this tragedy to ask for help. For those who don't have access to mental health services through insurance or a telehealth plan, there are non-profits and public resources available to help. Harris County residents can access resources here, and a full list of resources across the state is available here.

We do not plan to comment further as there is an ongoing criminal investigation and we want to respect a family and a restaurant team who are going through an unthinkable time.

In moments like this, we are reminded that our industry is more than workplaces: it is a community. May we all honor Thy's memory by continuing to show up for each other with compassion and care.

-Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., President & CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association