Jimmy was an accomplished musician and band director. He was trained in music by his grandmother, Betty Sue Hutcherson, a charter member of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. He received his formal education from the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi College, and the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) with a Master of Music.
Jimmy wanted to continue the tradition of big band music for all to enjoy. In the 1960’s he played with the Torris Brand Orchestra in Las Vegas, Nevada, playing for many shows including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Wayne Newton, among others.
Later in the 1970’s he taught high school bands at Callaway High School, Madison Ridgeland, and Forest Hill High School in Mississippi. In the 1980’s he taught bands in Grand Prairie and Granbury in Texas where he retired.
He led the Miss Mississippi Pageant Orchestra for 20 years. After retirement he worked his own orchestra in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, maintaining original big band orchestrations.
He directed many musicals with the Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera and played as a pit musician in several others. He has trained many young musicians in big band style.
He leaves behind his wife Phylis of 67 years and four children; Lynn Mullen, Don (Wendy) Mullen, David (Felicia) Mullen and Jimmy Mullen III, six grandchildren; Kayla (Ryan) Tharp, Kevin (Kansas) Mullen, Lindsay (Alex) Tojeiro, Katherine (Kerry) Joiner, Mary (Grant) Amerson, and Sarah (Corey) Greer, and four great-grandchildren, soon to be five!
Memorials should be made to First Baptist Church of Fannin, 101 Church Road, Brandon, MS 39047
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Services will conclude in the chapel, and burial will be private.
