Judy Lynn Mims-Daniel was born September 3, 1969 in Casper, Wyoming. She was nurtured, loved, and encouraged to dream big in Mountain Home, Idaho by her parents Willie Elbert and Rutha Mims and her older brother Avery Dale Mims.
A precocious child, Judy learned to read by the age of 3. As she grew up, Judy excelled in everything she attempted, from spelling bees to Girl State, she made her parents proud. Her early academic achievements were reflected in a host of awards including: Outstanding Negro Student, Mastery in French and Spanish, Presidential Scholar, and National Merit Scholarship. She attended East Elementary, Mountain Home Jr. High, and graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1987. Judy received a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Spanish from the University of Idaho in 1990 and a Juris Doctorate from Howard University in 1993.
Judy cherished time with her extended family, thanks to the close relationship of her parents to their siblings. Summers meant more time with the cousins, playing at Grandma’s house in Alexandria, Louisiana, going from the home of one aunt to the next, joy riding with the Big Cousins, learning the latest dances, playing in the yard, listening to the grownups share stories, eating good food – all while doing her best to stay out of trouble. Judy loved the feel of a big family and large family gatherings so it is no surprise that all friends ultimately became family.
Judy met the love of her life, Mary (ML) Mims-Daniel, when she moved to Seattle after law school. On February 21, 1994 Judy and ML committed to each other forever and on January 20, 2013, after the United States government affirmed their right to equality by legalizing same-sex marriage, they were married in the eyes of the State. Together they stoked each other's thirst for adventure. They were partners in crime – forever dreaming of where life would take them and allowing laughter, joy and love to fill their home. This family was rounded out with the son of her Heart, Darnell E. Daniel, and the daughter of her dreams, Mercy I. A. Mims-Daniel. Reading with these two amazing beings, driving carpool, and being their social calendar coordinator filled her with joy. Judy also felt blessed to be Tutu to her grandchildren, her punas , Carter James Daniel and Faith Antioquia. She was totally in her happy place as Tutu – the sleepovers, movie nights, sporting events, school pickup and holidays all made her very happy.
Judy made it easy to feel comfortable in her presence. She was as social as they come, could work a room, and could get people to tell her whole stories that they might be reluctant to tell others – which also made her a brilliant, gifted investigator and attorney. Judy became a Member of the Washington State Bar Association in January 1993. She was a leader in the field of employment law, serving for 11 years as Assistant Attorney General at the State Attorney General of Washington, 7 years as Associate Director of the Dean’s Office at the University of Washington - School of Medicine, 7 years as an Attorney Investigator with the Employee Relations Investigation Team of Microsoft Corporation, and, in 2018 she began her most recent role as Senior Employee Relations Investigator on the Amazon Logistics Central Investigations Team.
Judy was as committed to community service as she was to her career. She had a heart for youth and for ensuring that young people have what they need to thrive. She served as Director of the Board of Directors of WestSide Baby and the Association of Workplace Investigators, where she had also been faculty for the Annual Investigations Institute for 9 years, and was also a Board Member of YouthCare Seattle.
Judy was deeply spiritual in ways that mattered. She believed there was more to life than just this earthly existence; that we all come from something larger and that there is something greater that we are all working towards. She was raised Southern Baptist, baptized on October 6, 1985 by Reverend George Slaughter at 1st Southern Baptist Church in Mountain Home, Idaho. She later joined Findlay Street Christian Church, now Welcome Table Christian Church, under the leadership of Joan Dennehy. In 2023, she and Mercy began regularly attending Bethany United Church of Christ. Judy served on the church board and taught Sunday School at Welcome Table.
Judy Mims-Daniel departed this life, far too soon, on May 9, 2024. She was the heart and soul of her family, and will be sorely missed. She leaves to cherish memories and share stories of her love and life: her wife, Mary Mims-Daniel; daughter, Mercy Mims-Daniel; son, Darnell Emil Daniel (Sarah); grandchildren, Faith Antioquia and Carter Daniel; mother, Rutha Mims, of Marysville, Washington; brother, Avery Dale Mims (Carol), of Haymarket, Virginia; aunts: Christine Henton, of Marysville, Washington and Alzina Irving of Alexandria, Louisiana; brother and sisters-in law, nieces, nephews, a host of cousins, godchildren and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday May 25, 2024 at 11 am at Bethany UCC, 6230 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98108 (at Beacon and Graham).
Topic: Judy Lynn Mims-Daniel Memorial Service Time: May 25, 2024 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting
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A 529 Educational Savings Plan account has been established for Mercy, in support of Judy’s dreams for her. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation directly to this account: https://go.fidelity.com/g2nm34 or, alternatively, Venmo your donation to the care of ML Daniel at: