Gayle G Mims

Gayle Garrington Mims was born in Chicago but lived most of her childhood and teenage years in Trussville Alabama, where she was high school senior year Homecoming Queen and married the local baseball star soon after graduation. While her time in Trussville was wonderful, she would quickly tell you that the special, and at the time under appreciated blessing of her growing up there, were the friendships she made that would be cherished, many of them lifelong and a blessing to both her and her family for the rest of her life. What she would not say to you, but was apparent to all who would know her over the years, was that she herself was a blessing…. not only to those early Trussville friends, but also to the man who called her wife, to those who called her Mother, or sister, or aunt, or friend. And most of all, to those who called her Mimi.

She married her baseball player, James Mims, in 1950 and for the next several years, traveled with, supported and encouraged him as he played professional baseball. Once baseball was done, they settled in Center Point and raised two daughters, while she worked as office manager, first in the medical field and later in the insurance industry. She used those same work skills to serve the local Center Point United Methodist Church where she counted the people, the money, and some of the preachers who served there would tell you, she counted what she felt were the sermon theological mistakes made thru the years. Mimi was a lady confident in her discernments and not shy about sharing them. She was right most of the time (she would laugh at that).

Then when grandbabies came, work responsibilities were over, and she became the best Mimi there could ever be to her eventual 5 grandkids, 14 greatgrands, and 3 great,greats. She was Love to them, and they loved her back. And that Mimi Blessing overflowed and is reflected in so many ways in the lives of all of those kiddos. She was a truly good lady.

Mimi was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years James Maxwell Mims (Poppa), her sister Beverly Garrington Lee, and her daughter Deborah Mims Talley. She is survived by her daughter Donna Gardner (Dick), granddaughter Connie Richardson (Rodney), grandson Jay McCullough (Renae), grandsons Will (Mary), Jamie, John David (Mal) Gardner, 14 great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren.

A visitation for Gayle will be held Thursday, February 1, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Ridout's Trussville Chapel, 1500 Gadsden Hwy, Birmingham, AL 35235, followed by a celebration of life at 11:00 AM.