Longtime Athens Businessman Jimmy Mims Dies at 91

Jimmy A. Mims joined that great Mims-Neal reunion in the sky on May 15, 2013, after extended illnesses. He and his wife operated Bass-Mims Goodyear of Athens for over 30 years. Jimmy was born on January 2, 1922, in Telfair County, Ga.  He was the son of the late Duncan C. and Vera Jane (Neal) Mims.  He is preceded in death by ten brothers and sisters. He is survived by his widow Dorothy (Bass), his daughter Betty (Carl) Echols of Hamilton, OH, one granddaughter Melinda (Craig) Hilsenbeck of San Francisco, CA and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jimmy graduated high school and began his first job at Eugene Talmadge’s store where he worked until he entered the army in 1942.  He served as a radio operator and drove jeeps across Europe as part of General Patton’s Third Army until his discharge in 1945.  He came home and married Dorothy. A year later their daughter Betty was born.  Jimmy took advantage of the GI Bill to learn mechanics.

They eventually moved to Augusta via Waynesboro. In Augusta he began his Civil Service career at the Augusta Arsenal. When the arsenal closed he became shop manager with the Military Police School at Ft. Gordon. When the MP’s moved from Ft. Gordon, Jimmy retired and went into business for himself.

He bought the Goodyear store in Winder and moved to Athens and operated Goodyear stores on Alps Road, Baxter Street and Lexington Highway. He was an active civic leader in Athens belonging to the Mt. Vernon Masonic Lodge 22, the Optimist Club, DAV, VFW, the Buckeye Hunting Club, and Thompson Farms.

The family will receive friends at Bernstein Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m., Friday, May 24th.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 25th in the chapel at Bernstein with interment at Evergreen Cemetery.

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.