“Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master’s happiness!”
After a lifetime of humble service to his country, community, church, and family, James Thomas “Jim” Mullins, 92, of El Dorado entered the gates of Heaven on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at the Medical Center of South Arkansas. He was born on October 26, 1930 to James Byron and Mary Cornelia McGough Mullins in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Jim spent his childhood in Lake Village, Arkansas, where he was valedictorian of his high school class. He then spent two years at College of the Ozarks before transferring to pharmacy school at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Jim began a lifetime of service when he enlisted in the United States Army, serving during the Korean Conflict as a Specialist Third Class at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
Jim then moved to Union County in 1955. Over the years, he served the El Dorado community as a pharmacist at many pharmacies, including Harper’s, Union Memorial Hospital, Larry’s Rexall, Safeway, and Harvest Foods.
After retiring, Jim pursued many volunteer endeavors, including the Interfaith Health Clinic pharmacy. Another dear to his heart was the Medical Center of South Arkansas Auxiliary, where he served thousands of hours.
Jim was a loved and respected member of the El Dorado First Assembly of God Church, where he spent many hours volunteering his time. He was particularly proud of his landscaping work and keeping the church grounds looking beautiful. It was what he truly loved.
In 1999, Jim was recognized for his service as one of “Five Who Care.” In 2002, he was presented with the R.A. Vernon Memorial Award for outstanding Christian leadership by First Assembly.
A devoted Christian, Jim was particularly characterized by two fruits of the Spirit that the world desperately needs – gentleness and self-control. While these traits are often maligned in our society as weakness, those who knew Jim knew just how strong he was.
When Jim wasn’t busy serving others, he was adept at the fine art of “piddling” (i.e., the act of passing time, without waste or regret), an Arkansas tradition chronicled by no less than the venerable Southern Living. That being said, he never wasted a second.
Preceding him in death are his parents, brother, Richard Lee Mullins; and sister, Norma Jean Yager.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Dianne Michelle Jones (Kenneth) of El Dorado; sons, James Byron Mullins, M.D., of Dallas, Texas, and Jeffrey Alan Mullins (Shawna) of Plano, Texas; grandchildren, Kyle Michael Jones (Ashton) of Bellevue, Nebraska, Lauren Michelle Jones of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Jack Grayson Mullins, Jenna Brooke Mullins, and Jessica Grace Mullins, all of Plano, Texas; and great grandchildren, Hannah McKenzie Johnson of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Bailey Reid Jones and Evan Michael Jones, both of Bellevue, Nebraska.
A visitation for Jim will be held Sunday, March 19, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at El Dorado First Assembly of God Church, 2225 West Hillsboro St., El Dorado, Arkansas 71730.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 2:00 PM at El Dorado First Assembly of God Church. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Jones, Kyle Jones, Kevin Crowley, David Henry, Michael Kornegay, and Larry Sipes.
Burial will follow at Rhodes Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
Condolences can be expressed at www.youngsfuneralhome.com for the Mullins family.
Memorials may be made to El Dorado First Assembly of God Church.