Gerald R. Mims, Jr.

Gerald (Jerry) Richard Mims Jr. Passed away on Saturday, January 25th surrounded by the people he held most dear. He is survived by his son Alec, his daughter in law Amanda, his brothers Donald and James, and his nephew Josh Mims. Unfortunately, his mother Ruth Mims passed away shortly before on January 20th while also in hospice.

Jerry battled with Neck cancer from 2021 until his peaceful passing while in the care of his Son and Daughter in Law in their home while undergoing hospice care. He will be remembered by his love of all things sports, his love for golf, and his tenacious work ethic. To me, he will be remembered as a father who was always gracious, always beaming with pride, and who always pushed me to never settle for anything less than achievable. 

If my father wasn’t at work, he would be found on the golf course with one of his many beloved friends or with his son (probably also on the golf course). Jerry was a sports fanatic, he could talk about football, baseball, or golf for hours. Every conversation with my father would eventually end up on the topic of whatever sport he was currently watching on TV at the time of the discussion.

Through golf, softball, or work, Jerry had an arsenal of friends, many of those Relationships lasting for over 40 years. He was loved by not only his friends but the neighborhood he serviced for many years while at the postal service. He was always quick to boast about how many personalized cards and letters he got from the families on his route. My father was an extremely hard worker, until his diagnosis, one would be hard pressed to find days where my father would miss work. My father loved what he did (even if he complained about it sometimes) and loved the relationships he made while at the post office even more.

Jerry was an amazing father to not only me, his son, but to all my friends that came as a package deal with me every weekend while staying with my father. He always opened up his home and his heart to anyone I loved or considered a friend. With limited time on the weekends, and an unfortunate short lifetime, he showed me 5 lifetime's worth of love, and he will be so dearly missed by not only me, but every person fortunate enough to call him a friend.

My father will be cremated and I will be taking his ashes for one more tee time at Okeeheelee Golf course where he played every Sunday for many years. He did not wish to have a funeral or celebration of life, but I will be celebrating my father every day for the love and kindness he showed me and his friends, daily.