Kathy Mills James was born on February 6, 1959, to the late Leroy Sr, and Dorothy Mills. She peacefully departed from this world at her home on November 19, 2024, following a prolonged illness. Kathy was a proud graduate of Holt High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. From an early age, she embraced her faith in Christ and became a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, AL.

Kathy furthered her education at C.A. Fred Junior College, (now called Shelton State Community College). She met her college sweetheart, Jerry James, at C.A.Fred. Kathy and Jerry dated for 8 years and joined in Holy Matrimony on Christmas Eve December 1985. To this union, two children were born. LaQuanya James Linen and Lekeedra James-Lewis (Quintin). They initially lived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and later relocated to Simpsonville, SC.

Once settled in Simpsonville, Kathy devoted her life to the medical field, serving as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Phlebotomist. She spent many years employed at the Blood Connection and Internal Medicine Associates.

She joined Rocky Creek Missionary Baptist Church, where she founded the "JOY" Ministry (Just Older Youth), devoting her time to the seniors within her church community. Among her significant contributions were organizing trips to various locations, including the Holy Land in Orlando, Florida; Noah's Ark in Kentucky; and the Steve Harvey Show in Atlanta. She even hosted dances and cruises for the seniors at the church.

Kathy reinvented herself and launched a balloon business, BalloonTastic by KJ. She even had the honor of designing a balloon display for the annual Juneteenth celebration in downtown Greenville in 2023.

To know Kathy was to adore her; she exuded kindness and possessed a warm spirit. She was the life of the party and had many "fans." Kathy had a unique gift for making everyone feel valued and loved, never encountering a stranger. With her wonderful sense of humor, she consistently highlighted the best in others and made a lasting impact wherever she went. Kathy was passionate about traveling, organizing family and social gatherings by bringing family and friends together, and lending a helping hand to others. Her generosity radiated at Golden Strip Child Development Center in Simpsonville, SC, where she organized an annual drive to donate gloves, scarves, and coats to children in need. Kathy was a strong advocate

for breast cancer awareness and created hundreds of self-care bags for patients undergoing chemotherapy, just to name a few.

Kathy was very family oriented, and loved bringing the family together. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leroy Mills Sr. and Dorothy Mills; her brother Harold "Skip" Burns; and her sisters, Shirley M. McKenney and Jacquelyn Mills.

Her legacy of love will be forever cherished by her husband, Jerry James; her two devoted daughters, LaQuanya James Linen of Houston, TX, and Lekeedra (Quintin) Lewis of Atlanta, GA; and her two grandsons, Israel and Zion Linen of Houston, TX.

She is also survived by seven brothers: Min. Percy (Joyce) Mills Sr., Erskine Mills, Leroy (Cornelia) Mills Jr., Gerald (Gloria) Mills Sr., Ronald Mills, Karlos (Pam) Mills, and Karl (Tamara) Mills; five sisters: Merita (Howard) Bailey, Susan Mills, LaSandra (Daryl) Knox, April Mills, and Angelia Mills; three aunts: Gloria (John) Chisolm, Bennie (Tommy) Smith, and Ann Marie Mills; Two brother-in-laws: Nathaniel Ruffin, Leon Ruffin, one sister-in-law Donna Jean Ruffin, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and close relatives. Kathy also had a host of devoted friends who supported her throughout her journey.

Let's come together for a celebration of life: Funeral Service 2 pm, Sunday, November 24, 2024 at  Rocky Creek Missionary Baptist Church; 239 Rocky Creek Road, Simpsonville, SC 29680. Pastor Adrian Wideman, presiding and Reverend Willie J. Choice, pastor of Rock Hill # 1 officiating.

Public viewing will be held on Saturday from 10 am – 6:00 pm in the Chapel of Beasley Funeral Home - Greenville.

In her honor, we invite everyone to add a pop of pink to their attire. Our mom fought a great fight with grace and determination, and now, she may rest peacefully. Thank you for your love and support during this time!

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the "Kathy James Memorial Fund" to support programs for children in need and initiatives aiding individuals affected by breast cancer. Donations can be made via: 💲Zelle: KATJMF2024@gmail.com 💲PayPal: KATJMF2024@gmail.com 📝Check or CashApp upon request.

Beasley Funeral Home Greenville is in charge of the arrangements