Obituary of Paulene Gladys Mims

Paulene Gladys Mims, age 84, died Thursday, January 12, 2012 at Regions Hospital, St. Paul. A Funeral Service will be held at 7 PM on Thursday, January 19 at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 501 W. Lawson Avenue, St. Paul, with the Reverend Steve Daniels, Jr., officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church (6-7 PM). Interment Shady Grove Baptist Cemetery, Newtonville, Alabama. Serving as pallbearers will be Dante Wilson, Kareem Mims, Khymyle Mims, Jhalil Payne, Kylon J. Payne, Jr., and Kylon J. Payne, Sr. Paulene G. Mims, a loving mother, grandmother, and sister, began this journey on May 20, 1927 in Fayette County, Alabama to parents Jethro and Vergie Wilson. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church. She was very active in the church as a Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School teacher. Paulene graduated from Fayette County Training School and attended Stillman Colleage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Upon the death of her mother and father, Paulene willingly left college to raise her brothers and sisters. Later, she became a teacher where she taught in the Fayette County School System. In 1962, after a severe accident sustained be her brother, she moved to Chicago to care for him. There, she met and married Walter C. Mims. After moving to Chicago, she joined the Old St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church with the Reverend Paul Jakes, Pastor. Paulene held various positions in the church. In 1968, her family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. In St. Paul. Paulene joined Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church where she became active in many areas of the church including usher board and mission. She was a very involved member of the Minnesota State United Ushers and the Minnesota State Women's Auxiliary. Paulene loved both her immediate and extended family. Since her move to Minnesota, several extended family members joined her in St. Paul. Paulene enjoyed family gatherings and would offer a number of reasons to have family get together. She especially loved her work in the church in all capacities. Paulene would assist wherever needed. She had an extreme passion for cooking, sewing, and gardening. She worked at the University of Minnesota, Ramsey County Externsion Office - Community Nutrition Education as an Agricultural Assistant where she had the opportunity to utilize her passion and skills. Paulene's employment guided her through the community to work with youth in 4-H progams and families as a nutrition economist. They gained many life sustaining skills from these programs. Her love of serving and helping others branched out even farther into the community where she served on committees, advisory councils, and in clubs. To mention a few: RAP Taskforce, Mississippi Market Co-op Planning Committee, and the U of M Horticulture (Master Gardener). She would help anyone in need, giving rides, cooking meals, and visiting. Anyone who knew Paulene knew she loved flowers and plants! Paulene was preceded in death by her father, Jethro; mother, Vergie; husband, Walter C. Mims; brothers, Robelton (Johnny Pearl), James Richard; sisters, Eulene Nalls (John C.), Earlene Brown (Jessie). She leaves to cherish: daughters, Carolyn M, Vergie Earscalene, Yvette, and Desiree (Kylon); grandsons, Dante V., Kareem D., Khymyle D., Jhalil D., and Kylon J., Jr.; great-granddaughters, Kiera, Shaila, Shawnae, DeShay; great-great- grandchildren, Kimaya, Ronald; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family in Christ. Arrangements entrusted to the Spielman Mortuary.