Ernest Willis Mims

COLUMBIA -  Funeral service for Ernest Willis Mims, 79, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, 2014, at Greenlawn Baptist Church, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 3:00 p.m. at the church prior to the service. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.      Mr. Mims died Sunday, May 11, 2014.  Born August 11, 1934, in St. Stephen, he was a son of the late Wilson and Myrtle Lewis Mims.  He graduated from Columbia Commercial College in Business Administration.  A veteran of the U.S. Army, he was employed with South Carolina Tractor Company for 30 years.  In addition, he was affiliated with Mims Fine Jewelry.  An active member of Greenlawn Baptist Church, he served as church treasurer for 30 years.  He also served as a deacon and on the finance committee and church council.      He enjoyed fishing, bowling, gardening and his grandchildren.  He was treasurer of the Men’s Commercial Bowling League for 30 years.      Surviving are his wife, Jeanette Lee Mims; son, Donald Ernest Mims (Ann Marie) of Chapin; daughter, Amanda Mims Whitfield of Lexington; grandsons, Thomas Wilson Mims and Joshua Lee Mims of Chapin; granddaughters, Melissa Ashley Whitfield and Michelle Lee Whitfield of Lexington; brother, Willie Mims (Cecilia) of St. Stephen; sisters, Ida Mae Holifield of Wando, Kathleen McElhany of Goose Creek.      The family wishes to thank Dorothy Dixon and all the staff of NHC Parklane for their compassionate and loving care.       Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Research, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60601-7633 or Greenlawn Baptist Church, 6612 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209.