James G. (Bud) Mills, 89, died Thursday, April 12, 2018. Coach Mills was born May 9, 1928 in Chatom, Alabama to James G. Mills, Sr. and Ethel Williams Mills. He was always involved in sports, playing ball in high school and college. While at Livingston State Teacher College he signed with the Cleveland Indians organization. He later returned to Livingston State Teachers College and upon graduating married his wife of 68 years, Laura Eloise Pritchett. After teaching and coaching in West Blockton (1949-50), Town Creek (1951-53) and Vincent (1954) they moved to Cherokee, Alabama in 1955. After forty-one years as a teacher, coach, and principal (Cherokee Elementary School), he retired in 1989.
Coach Mills received many coaching honors during his career. Some of these were, Coach of the Year in 1955 and 1970, inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, and into the first class of the Colbert County Hall of Fame in 2000. The Colbert County Board of Education and Cherokee High School recognized his coaching accomplishments by naming the football field for him in 2014. On April 6, 2018 Colbert County and the City of Cherokee honored him with “Bud Mills Day”. On that day Representative Johnny Mack Morrow presented Resolution HJR19, passed by both Houses and signed by Governor Kay Ivey, extending the deepest admiration and appreciation for his immeasurable services and significant contributions to Alabama high school athletics.
Since 1955 he was an active member at the First Baptist Church of Cherokee. He served as a member on Cherokee’s Water Board for many years, was a Lions Club Member and was a Mason for over 50 years.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Krista and Joe Welford; two grandchildren, Jason Hoffman (Cindy) and Laura Kunard (Jeff); and five great-grandchildren, Hannah and Rachel Hoffman and Christopher, Andrew, and Gabriela Kunard; a brother-in-law, James Carpenter of Mobile; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Eloise Mills; sister, Virginia Carpenter; and his parents.
The visitation will be Sunday, April 15, 2018, at Morrison Funeral Home, Cherokee from 5p.m. until 8p.m. The funeral will be Monday, April 16, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church Cherokee with Steve Slaton, Bobby DuBois, and Buddy Dover officiating. Burial will follow in Harris Chapel Cemetery with Morrison Funeral Home Cherokee directing.
Pallbearers will be Billy Alexander, Ralph Rutland, Larry Collum, Wayne White, Buddy Willis, Jack Cochran, Howard Keeton, Carl Ray, Jimmy Tapp, and Dale McWilliams. Upon his request, honorary pallbearers will be all the men and women he coached during his career.
The family would like to thank the people who rendered care to Coach Mills: Dr. Andre Taylor, Tennessee Valley Hospice and most recently Kindred Hospice, Garry Lovette who served as Chaplin to Coach and Mrs. Mills during their time in both hospice programs, Pastor Steve Slaton, First Baptist Church congregation and to the Cooking Angels at Harris Chapel Baptist.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church of Cherokee’s Building Fund or Cherokee High School’s Athletics Department.
