Joe R Mims

Joe Ray Mims, age 86, of Columbus, Mississippi, passed away Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson.

Services will be held Saturday, October 3, at 11:00 a.m. at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbus, Mississippi, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens.

Joe was born July 17, 1940, in Black Hawk, Mississippi, to the late Robert L. Mims and the late Virginia Sudduth Mims. He was a lifelong resident of Lowndes County and a graduate of S.D. Lee High School and Mississippi State University. He was a member of First Christian Church of Columbus, Mississippi.

Joe was very patriotic and deeply loved his country. He began his career with the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. He later served three years of active military duty in the U.S. Army and then served in the U.S. Army National Guard as a Sergeant First Class with Company C 2d Special Forces Bn 20th Special Forces Group. He retired in 1995 after 30 years of Civil Service with the Federal Government.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Martha Reeves Mims; two sons, Morri Mims and wife Lisa of Columbus, Mississippi, and Michael Mims of Hong Kong; and a daughter, Susanne Blalock and husband Jason of Madison, Mississippi.

Joe was adored by his family and lovingly known as “Pop” by his five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His grandchildren are Jessee Mims of Prattville, Alabama; Dylan Mims and wife Sally of Memphis, Tennessee; Robert Mims and fiancée Hanna Thomas of Huntsville, Alabama; Lauren Glenn and husband Thomas of Madison, Mississippi; and Hunter Blalock and wife Amelia, also of Madison, Mississippi. His two great-grandchildren are Winston Porter of Prattville, Alabama, and Haz Glenn of Madison, Mississippi.

Joe is also survived by his brother, Paul Mims and wife Sandra of Starkville, Mississippi; sisters Dianne Noffke and husband Mark of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Pam Gammill and husband Robert of Fairview, Alabama; and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Zerelda Thompson, and brother-in-law, Bobby Thompson, of West Point, Mississippi.

Pallbearers will be Dylan Mims, Robert Mims, Hunter Blalock, Thomas Glenn, Josh Gammill, Alex Noffke, Marcus Swentkofske, and Curtis Tate.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Joe’s memory by making a donation to Wounded Warrior Project.