Carol Diane Mills

Carol Diane Mills was born in San Francisco on July 8, 1955 and passed away on July 21, 2021 due to complications related to ALS. Carol represented the Fresno High area on the Fresno Unified School Board for nearly two decades and at the time of her death, was one of the district’s two longest-serving trustees. She believed that every student deserves access to high quality facilities, challenging curriculum, arts, activities, and athletics, to achieve their full potential. With education, hard work, persistence, and determination, every child can achieve their dream. She was a tireless advocate for the district and children. In addition, Carol was an active member of many community and statewide organizations including the Fresno County School Trustees Association, California School Board Association, Fresno County Democratic Women’s Club and the Kennedy Club of the San Joaquin Valley.

Carol was the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside and a Juris Doctorate from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She was admitted to the State Bar of California; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Central Districts of California and the Fresno County Bar Association. After working a dozen years in private practice, she worked 5 years for the U.S. Department of Justice specializing in bankruptcy and “white collar” cases and later was a lead appellate court attorney for the Fifth District Court of Appeal from 1996 until her retirement.

She is survived by her son, Sam Mills and his wife JoAnn, Sister Kathe Potter, Aunt Francine Falk, and Step-father Charles Boone.

A Memorial Service will be held at Fresno High School Royce Hall on August 28, 2021 at 10:00 AM. Masks required. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Central Valley Walk to Defeat ALS at http://web.alsa.org/goto/inmemoryofcarolmills