James Raymond Mills

James “Jim” Raymond Mills, 70, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2017 at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. Born in Gaston, NC on April 13, 1946, he was predeceased in death by his father, Herman C. Mills, and his mother, Irene Barr. He is survived by his loving wife, Katherine Moccia Mills, his cousin Marty Barr, of Lowell, NC, and many friends and colleagues.

Jim will always be remembered for his quick-witted sense of humor, love of people and the planet, and a strong belief in the power of kindness. He was always ready to help anyone in need while retaining his brilliant sense of humor. A true storyteller, Jim always enjoyed his stories as much as his audience. His humanity and generosity positively impacted many lives. He will be tremendously missed.

He earned his B.A. degree in Public Administration from Upper Iowa University, his Juris Doctor degree from Woodrow Wilson College of Law, and had advanced degrees from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He was admitted to the American Bar Association in 1974, and was a member of the State Bar of Georgia. Over the course of his career, Jim worked as an attorney with the U.S. Department of Interior, Georgia Power Company, as well as having served as an ad-hoc administrative judge (MS) in DeKalb County, GA, and was a recognized American Mensa member. Most recently, he served as general counsel for Cartel Properties.

His most notable contributions during his legal career included matters related to conservation and environmental regulation, serving as general counsel to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, and the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. In 1983, the Secretary of Interior recognized Jim’s service with an Outstanding Achievement Award, and in 1987, the Director, National Park Service, gave Jim a Special Service Award for excellence in providing legal services in support of National Park Programs.

He served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, and received an Honorable Discharge from the Army in 1971, after serving as an artillery NCO in South Vietnam from 1966-1968.

A private celebration of Jim’s life will be held. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made as a tribute in honor of Jim Mills to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation, 1577 NE Expressway, Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30329 or https://giving.choa.org/tributes.