James Richard Mills

During his early years, he lived in Lancaster, SC and for a few years in Texas. He moved to Columbia, SC in the 6th grade and later attended Dreher High School where he lettered in baseball and football. He worked a paper route during his early time in Columbia, rising early each day and completing his loop before going to school. He was presented with the Palmetto Boys State award and was a member of the Dark Horsemen.

He went on to attend the University of South Carolina and was Commander of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He was also a cheerleader at USC. In the summer of 1960, he began his first of seven years as a lifeguard at Myrtle Beach, including one summer as the head lifeguard at the Isle of Palms.

He lived for a few years in Atlanta where he worked in pharmaceutical sales before settling in Orlando, FL where his two children, Jamie and Dana, were born. He worked as a sales representative selling gift merchandise for Werner Frank Enterprises. He made lifelong friends there and still stayed in touch with his friends at the beach. He made frequent trips back to Myrtle and Cherry Grove Beach for time on the beach with family and friends.

After 30 years in Florida, he moved back to his hometown of Columbia, SC where he spent the last 24 years with his loving partner, Kaye Strother. He was an active member in the community where he attended Shandon United Methodist Church and coordinated LifeLine services for many years. He continued to work as an insurance agent with Hartman and Young. He also gave of his time graciously in service, including serving meals to those in need on Christmas Day at St Peter’s Catholic Church.

While living in Columbia, he continued his frequent trips to Myrtle Beach where he would spend his time in his favorite pastime of shag dancing. He was a frequent attendee at SOS and over the years spent many nights dancing at the Ocean Drive Pavilion, Sonny’s, The Pad, Duck’s, and Fat Harold’s. His excellent shag dancing skills garnered him recognition as a Living Legend, and more recently he was inducted into the Shagging Hall of Fame in 2022.

When he wasn’t doing the shag, he was an avid reader and regular completer of the daily crossword in the local paper. He loved his South Carolina Gamecocks and was a frequent attender of baseball and football games. When traveling to see friends and family, he was a most gracious guest and always came with a basket of fresh local peaches and tomatoes or a batch of his delicious homemade boiled peanuts. With a Styrofoam cup in hand and Chapstick in his pocket, he brightened the room with his presence.

He will be remembered as someone who was always ready with a new joke, easily brought a smile to the faces of many friends, and showed his affection with a kind hug and many thoughtful cards for those he loved. He made our lives better.

Along with his parents, Jim is preceded in death by his step-mom and dear friend, Lottie Mills. He is survived by his son, James S. Mills and daughter-in-law Kate of Raleigh, NC; daughter, Dana Fitzgerald and son-in-law Duane of Sanford, FL; and six grandchildren, Emma, Sarah, Chance, Riley, Kaia, and Blakely and long-time partner Kaye Strother as well as countless friends who will miss him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine Street, Columbia, SC or to the charity of your choice.

A memorial service for James Richard Mills will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. The family will receive friends after the service at the funeral home.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com