Pastor Dr. Jacquelyn Sadie Donald-Mims

Pastor Dr. Jacquelyn Sadie Donald-Mims passed away on Monday, August 14, 2023.

Dr. Jacquelyn Donald-Mims founded and was a pastor of a new congregation within the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Imani Community Church of Austin. Organized under the anointing of the Holy Spirit in 1995, the church fulfilled its pivotal aim: to evangelize and to convert people to loving relationships with Jesus Christ and to become disciples. Her primary focus was upon the unchurched, de-churched, multi-racial-cultural, in a diverse communities. She was a triple career professional, as corporate executive manager of International Business Machines Corporation, real estate executive, and preacher-teacher of the Gospel of grace, salvation and the of the Holy Spirit.

An ordained elder, she is also a founder and Board Chairperson of the Imani Community Foundation; and served for 13 years on the Board of Trustees of Paul Quinn College of Dallas, Texas. As a corporate business executive manager for global operations for a major international corporation, she broke corporate glass ceilings as a dynamic new female in the management ranks with innovative leadership. She is highly recognized as a keynote speaker, preacher, revivalist, women's conference convener, guest speaker in the University of Texas related universities, at other colleges and universities, and among interreligious ministries groups in Austin, and as an author. From childhood Baptism through graduate school, nurtured in Birmingham's largest Sixth Avenue Baptist Church and cited Rev. Dr. John T. Porter's 2005 book, a historical account, Keep Looking Up; then St. Luke Community United Methodist Church's Reverend Dr. Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. as a mentor and ultimentaly by her spiritual father A. M. E. Bishop John Bryant. Cited for her expert influence in organizational diversity in the University of Texas' first textbook on diversity. Diversity in Organizations by Dr. Myrtle P. Bell, (Thomson, 2007), and in Dr. Ella P. Mitchell's book, Those Preaching Women, Volume 3.

David A. Mims, Jr., intellectual property law attorney is her spouse; their son is Devon Christian, married to Jessica and parents to grandchildren, Maisie and Iris Roux. Francene Donald, sister-in-law and best friend, is the mother of niece Travae and nephew James.

She is preceded in death by parents, James and Sadie Davis Donald, and brother, James Reginald Donald.

She leaves to cherish her memories: mother-in-law, Mae Lou Mims, Baton Rouge, LA; brothers-in-law, Willie (Ophelia), Mims, Atlanta, GA, Prince (Barbara) Mims, Dallas, TX; Sisters-in-law, Ella Philson and Emma (Derrick) Giles, Baton Rouge, LA; and numerous nieces, cousins, and friends.

Her education: Doctor of Ministry degree, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio; the Master of Divinity, Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, Dallas; the Master of Theological Studies, University of Dallas; the Master of Business Administration, Georgia State University, Atlanta; the Bachelor of Science, Tuskegee University in Alabama.

She wrote clergy columns for the major daily chronicle, the Austin American Statesman, and for the Austin Student newspaper. She is a writer for the Urban Ministries' adult Sunday School quarterly and Precepts for Living commentaries. Included among her published works is her latest book, Obsessive Sex: Resolving the Conflict of Loving Sex and Loving God, now entering its third printing; dissertation Design for the Initiation of a Spiritually, Theologically, and Socially Empowered African American Church, Move Over Men: God's Calls Women to the Pulpit; Religious Robbers: Hundred Fold Return on an Investment of a Tenth; and Sticks, Stones, and Words do Harm Me, her collection based upon her Women's Power Conferences and lecture seminars on Women's Self-Esteem Empowerment. Her other published works include the sermon "Case Dismissed," which she contributed to editor, Dr. Ella P. Mitchell's newest book, Those Preaching Women, Volume 3. She has been featured in articles including "Making a Difference" All -Around Achiever in Essence magazine, Executive Female magazine, in 2006 the Milennia Women in Our Texas magazine, as one of "Ten Treasured Women" of Fortress magazine, The Minority Business News feature article "Making a Difference" in September/October and in the Minority Business News' March feature, "Women Who Mean Business '98".

Honors and Affiliations:

Congressman Honorable Ben Erdreich cited her numerous corporate accomplishments in the United States 99th Congress second session, recorded in the United States Congressional Record, Volume 132, Number 100.

-2008 Connie Yerwood Collins Award, Communications Honoree National Women of Achievement, Inc.

-2006 The State of Texas Governor's Service Honor Award (Rick Perry, Governor)

-2006 Award — Millennia Woman Pastor and Preacher

-Texas Congregations United for Empowerment, Vice President, Executive Board

-CEO, Sadie Davis Donald Achievement & Development

-Board Chairperson of the former CHILDS, Children's Holistic Learning & Development School

-African American woman pastor to serve as Chaplain of the Day; opening invocation proceedings of the 79tht 80th, 81st Session of the Texas Senates 2005 - 2009

-African American woman pastor to serve as Chaplain of the Day; opening invocation Austin City Council, 1996

-Midland Black Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Executive Board Member

-1995 Leadership Dallas

-Austin Interreligious Ministries, Advisory Board

-Board of Directors of Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation; Big Brothers & Sisters of Dallas & the Junior Players.

-Executive-on-Loan - Lawson State Community College, Birmingham, AL; acquire corporate influence, grants

-Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

-Alpha Kappa Apha Sorority, Life Member, origin at Gamma Kappa Chapter, Tuskegee University

-Vice President, Tuskegee Alumni of Austin & Central Texas

-2008 Spiritual pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Israel and Asia Minor Turkey

Sorority Final Rites "Ivy Beyond the Wall" for Pastor Dr. Jacquelyn will be held Thursday, August 24, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78752. A funeral service will occur Friday, August 25, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 4301 Tannehill Lane, Austin, Texas 78721. A graveside service will occur Friday, August 25, 2023 at 12:30 PM at Cook-Walden/ Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 North IH-35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com for the Donald-Mims family.