Obituary for Ivory Mims
Ivory “Ira” Earl Mims, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend was called home on December 14, 2022. Ivory was born to Richard Mims, Sr., and Carrie Lee Mims on November 14, 1955. A native of Bay Minette, AL, Ivory attended Baldwin County High School and then worked for CSX Transportation for 10 years. A cheerful man with a ready smile and an infectious laugh, Ivory loved to cook, and he made friends wherever life took him. From Bay Minette to Boston to Texas to LA, people loved his macaroni and cheese and collard greens. While he boasted that he taught his sisters and his nephew Stan how to cook, he also was quick to brag about their cooking skills. With an enthusiastic appetite as well, Ivory loved Friday fish fries, and was always in the mood for backyard barbecues, seafood gumbo, banana pudding and his favorite, red velvet cake.
Most of all Ivory loved the Lord. He joined and served in churches wherever he lived, and he left this world a faithful and much-loved member of Deliverance Tabernacle Christian Center in Milton, FL, where he served proudly as their sound technician. He became a fixture in his Milton neighborhood where he sat in his garage greeting every passerby with a wave and a shout. Everyone warmed to the comforting sight of Ivory holding court in his garage and he became known by many as the “Mayor of Milton.” All are saddened by his loss.
Ivory leaves behind his cherished wife of 25 years, Eva Mims and stepdaughter, Tia (Robert) Lewis. Also left to mourn are five children from his previous union with Wanda F. Mims: one son, Lonzo Earl (Jada) Mims, and four daughters, Pamala (Trayon) Turner, Rhonda Virginia (Trent) Spearman, Christy Mims, and Emily Mims (Damien Turner). He also leaves two brothers: Richard (Betty) Mims Jr. and Willie J. Mims; five sisters: Carrie Lee, Brenda Lamar, Shirley Sanders, Jacqueline (Winston) Woods, and Constance (John) Cox; two aunts: Georgia Harrington and Stella M. Boulware; one uncle, Julius Mims, and 28 grandchildren: Timberly Mims, Takayla Evans, Tyreek Evans, Taquira Evans, Tabitha Turner, Trayon Turner Jr., Taylor Turner, Trent Spearman Jr, Skylar Spearman, Carter Blunt, Chase Blunt, China Mims, Damien Turner Jr., Xavier Turner, Emmett Turner, Detarious Turner, Deshannon Turner, Dallas Turner, Amira Turner, Alondria Mims, Amber Mims, Anyia Mims, Draylen Tunstall, Lonzo Earl Mims Jr, DaKobi Tunstall, Amir Johnson, Alana Lewis, Robert Lewis, III; and five great-grandchildren.
Also left to mourn are two brothers-in-law, Anthony “A.J.” Johnson of Milton, FL, and Lonzo Conner of Pensacola, FL, and devoted friends Danny George, Porter Culver, Greg Allen, James Hill, James Conner, James Holliday, and cousin, Troy Mims as well as Rev. John C. Cox, III, Ivory’s lifelong, kindred mentor, “big brother”, counselor, brother-in-law, and special friend.
In addition to his parents, Ivory was preceded in death by his devoted uncle, Andrew Steans; two brothers, Tommie Lee Mims, Sr. and Sinatrous Mims; one sister, Dorothy Mims Conner, and a grandson, Cameron Dakarai Mims.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service begins at 12 noon on Friday, December 30, 2022 at Deliverance Tabernacle Christian Center, Pensacola, FL.
Burial will follow at Serenity Gardens Cemetery in Milton, FL.
Most of all Ivory loved the Lord. He joined and served in churches wherever he lived, and he left this world a faithful and much-loved member of Deliverance Tabernacle Christian Center in Milton, FL, where he served proudly as their sound technician. He became a fixture in his Milton neighborhood where he sat in his garage greeting every passerby with a wave and a shout. Everyone warmed to the comforting sight of Ivory holding court in his garage and he became known by many as the “Mayor of Milton.” All are saddened by his loss.
Ivory leaves behind his cherished wife of 25 years, Eva Mims and stepdaughter, Tia (Robert) Lewis. Also left to mourn are five children from his previous union with Wanda F. Mims: one son, Lonzo Earl (Jada) Mims, and four daughters, Pamala (Trayon) Turner, Rhonda Virginia (Trent) Spearman, Christy Mims, and Emily Mims (Damien Turner). He also leaves two brothers: Richard (Betty) Mims Jr. and Willie J. Mims; five sisters: Carrie Lee, Brenda Lamar, Shirley Sanders, Jacqueline (Winston) Woods, and Constance (John) Cox; two aunts: Georgia Harrington and Stella M. Boulware; one uncle, Julius Mims, and 28 grandchildren: Timberly Mims, Takayla Evans, Tyreek Evans, Taquira Evans, Tabitha Turner, Trayon Turner Jr., Taylor Turner, Trent Spearman Jr, Skylar Spearman, Carter Blunt, Chase Blunt, China Mims, Damien Turner Jr., Xavier Turner, Emmett Turner, Detarious Turner, Deshannon Turner, Dallas Turner, Amira Turner, Alondria Mims, Amber Mims, Anyia Mims, Draylen Tunstall, Lonzo Earl Mims Jr, DaKobi Tunstall, Amir Johnson, Alana Lewis, Robert Lewis, III; and five great-grandchildren.
Also left to mourn are two brothers-in-law, Anthony “A.J.” Johnson of Milton, FL, and Lonzo Conner of Pensacola, FL, and devoted friends Danny George, Porter Culver, Greg Allen, James Hill, James Conner, James Holliday, and cousin, Troy Mims as well as Rev. John C. Cox, III, Ivory’s lifelong, kindred mentor, “big brother”, counselor, brother-in-law, and special friend.
In addition to his parents, Ivory was preceded in death by his devoted uncle, Andrew Steans; two brothers, Tommie Lee Mims, Sr. and Sinatrous Mims; one sister, Dorothy Mims Conner, and a grandson, Cameron Dakarai Mims.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service begins at 12 noon on Friday, December 30, 2022 at Deliverance Tabernacle Christian Center, Pensacola, FL.
Burial will follow at Serenity Gardens Cemetery in Milton, FL.