George Ellis Mims

George Ellis Mims died on December 10, 2025, at the age of 87. He was dearly loved by his family and friends and leaves a legacy of faith in Jesus and a life poured out for the gospel, most notably through music and deep relationships.
Born in Houston, Texas, to Forrest Marion Mims and Letha Elizabeth Myer, George was the youngest of five children. He graduated from Jeff Davis High School, Baylor University (Bachelors of Music, major in viola and minor in sacred music), and Union Theological Seminary (Masters of Sacred Music, major in conducting and organ). In 2005, Nashotah House Theological Seminary conferred upon him a Doctor of Music honoris causae.
Music was instrumental in George's life from an early age. He joined the Houston Youth Symphony in seventh grade and learned to play the organ at the age of 14 to bless his Baptist church. He continued both endeavors through High School. He did contract work at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Waco during college, where he fell in love with liturgical worship.
George was confirmed in the Episcopal Church in 1963 and served the church throughout his career, spanning well over 50 years and many cities and churches including, St. Savior's Episcopal (Old Greenwich, CT), Second Congregational (Greenwich, CT), Church of the Redeemer Episcopal (Houston, TX), Calvary/St. George's Episcopal (NYC, NY), St. Philip's Episcopal (Charleston, SC), Truro Episcopal (Fairfax, VA), St. Andrew's Episcopal (Kansas City, MO), St. Martin's Episcopal (Houston, TX), and St. Paul's Episcopal (Mobile, AL).
George was a pioneer in the inclusion of blended worship, bringing a balance of traditional and contemporary church music to the congregation. His outreach ministry spanned much of the United States and multiple continents as he brought this vision to the Church worldwide. He served on the national Standing Commission on Church Music and was the music editor of "Songs for Celebration," a supplement to the 1940 and 1982 hymnals. His arrangements are found in most denominational hymnals today.
Over the years, his choirs recorded many CD's and cassettes and were featured on With Heart and Voice, the nationally syndicated radio broadcast on National Public Radio, hosted by Richard Gladwell. A particular personal highlight of his work in the church was selecting and overseeing the design and creation of two organs, first at Church of the Redeemer and later at St. Martin's. His improvisational skills on the organ and piano were a joy to witness. He might best be known as a man who himself worshiped as he led musical worship, drawing congregations into a rich experience of the presence of the Lord.
Upon retirement from the Episcopal Church, George was drawn to St. Joseph Antiochian Orthodox Church, where the community welcomed him and he was blessed by the music and liturgy. He continued to participate in online services at St. John the Divine and St. Martin's when he became unable to physically attend church.
While at Baylor, George fell in love with his wife of 62 years, Leslie Wells, when he heard her play the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto. He offered her a ride to church and four months later they were engaged. Together they made a formidable team in life and in work, serving the church with their musical gifts and loving their family well.
George is survived by his wife, Leslie; his three daughters and their spouses, Drucinda and Kerry Fletcher, Wendy and Hugo Rivas, and Sarah and Mark Kwolek. He dearly loved his nine grandchildren, Mary Grace Fletcher, George Henry Fletcher, Yasmeen Real (Jorge), Moses Rivas, Evelyn Rivas, Lillian Rivas, Micah Kwolek, Jonathan Kwolek, and Anna Kwolek. He was overjoyed at the birth of his first great grandchild, Elena Grace, earlier this year. George leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends, who remember his punny sense of humor and his deep love for each person in his life.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd, Houston, TX. Live stream will begin at 10:30 a.m. - sjd.org/mims. A reception to follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial gifts to haps.org/, sjd.org/give, or saintjosephorthodox.org/