William Mims Jones Jr.

JONES, JR., WILLIAM MIMS William Mims Jones, Jr., descendent of a pioneer Jefferson County family passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Born October 7, 1927, Mims was the son of the late William Mims and Francis Peterson Jones. A lifelong Episcopalian, he was a member of the Cathedral Church of the Advent. Active in his church, he served as a Sunday school teacher, lay reader, vestryman, and convention delegate. He also served on the board of trustees at St. Martin's in the Pines where he spent the last two years of his life. A graduate of Ensley High School, he represented the Birmingham Public Schools as a junior delegate to the national American Red Cross convention in Washington, DC. While at the University of Alabama, he was a member of the Navy Reserve. He left the afternoon after graduation for active duty in the U.S. Navy where he was to attend officer training school. Instead, he was transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps. With little training, he was sent to Korea where he served as a medical Corpsman. Before leaving Korea, he was honored with a medal and letter of commendation for bravery beyond the call of duty for retrieving the wounded from the battlefields. Returning home, he said he was fighting for his country but never saw an American flag. After that he became an ardent supporter of conservative causes. He was an early member of the Young Republicans. He retired after a long career from UAB University Hospital. He loved to dance and was a member of several dance and single organizations. He was predeceased by his brother Walter Frank Jones, nephew James Young Cooper Jr. and Shawntel Jones. Survivors include his sister Grace Jones Cooper (James); nephews Mims Jones Cooper, Erick Patterson Cooper(Linda), Walter Frank Jones, Jr.; niece Laura Grace Jones; sister-in-law Sharon Mitchell Jones; great nephews Erick Patterson Cooper Jr., William Jemison Cooper, Thomas Dixon Jones, Nathaniel Sanders Jones, Mims Calhoun Jones; great niece Caroline Elise Cooper and Amy Davis Cooper. The family will receive friends Friday, November 18, 2011 from 2 to 3 PM at the Cathedral Church of the Advent followed by a memorial service at 3 PM. The burial will be at 1 PM at Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Endowment Fund at Cathedral Church of the Advent, 2017 Sixth Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203. Arrangements under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel, Homewood, AL.