Columbus, MS
Funeral Home
Memorial Funeral Home
Visitation
Saturday, October 3, 10-11 a.m., Memorial Funeral Home, Columbus
Service
Saturday, October 3, 11:00 a.m., Memorial Funeral Home, Columbus
Obituary
Look Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:
Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero who Served in the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten.” In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service, which our military men and women have given to their country and our state, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard memorializing its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation. Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on September 27, 2026 and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Sergeant First Class Joe Ray Mims, age 86, Columbus, MS, who served with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group has departed and gone to a better place with our Lord and Savior.
It takes a special person to serve in the military for their country, sacrificing time with family time, comfort, and safety to ensure all Americans can enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country.
A special message from General Douglas MacArthur remains relevant today for our servicemen who have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away.” Rest in peace, soldier. We honor your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family’s support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly, and live so freely.
You have now earned your rest, so go fly with the angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is complete. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ love for the Father and the Son.
Another great soldier has gone home—“Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life.”
Obituary, Visitation, and Service Details:
Joe Ray Mims, age 86, of Columbus, Mississippi, passed away Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson.
Services will be held Saturday, October 3, at 11:00 a.m. at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbus, Mississippi, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens.
Joe was born July 17, 1940, in Black Hawk, Mississippi, to the late Robert L. Mims and the late Virginia Sudduth Mims. He was a lifelong resident of Lowndes County and a graduate of S.D. Lee High School and Mississippi State University. He was a member of First Christian Church of Columbus, Mississippi.
Joe was very patriotic and deeply loved his country. He began his career with the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. He later served three years of active military duty in the U.S. Army and then served in the U.S. Army National Guard as a Sergeant First Class with Company C 2d Special Forces Bn 20th Special Forces Group. He retired in 1995 after 30 years of Civil Service with the Federal Government.
Joe is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Martha Reeves Mims; two sons, Morri Mims and wife Lisa of Columbus, Mississippi, and Michael Mims of Hong Kong; and a daughter, Susanne Blalock and husband Jason of Madison, Mississippi.
Joe was adored by his family and lovingly known as “Pop” by his five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His grandchildren are Jessee Mims of Prattville, Alabama; Dylan Mims and wife Sally of Memphis, Tennessee; Robert Mims and fiancée Hanna Thomas of Huntsville, Alabama; Lauren Glenn and husband Thomas of Madison, Mississippi; and Hunter Blalock and wife Amelia, also of Madison, Mississippi. His two great-grandchildren are Winston Porter of Prattville, Alabama, and Haz Glenn of Madison, Mississippi.
Joe is also survived by his brother, Paul Mims and wife Sandra of Starkville, Mississippi; sisters Dianne Noffke and husband Mark of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Pam Gammill and husband Robert of Fairview, Alabama; and many nieces and nephews.
Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Zerelda Thompson, and brother-in-law, Bobby Thompson, of West Point, Mississippi.
Pallbearers will be Dylan Mims, Robert Mims, Hunter Blalock, Thomas Glenn, Josh Gammill, Alex Noffke, Marcus Swentkofske, and Curtis Tate.