JAMES DARRELL MULLINS

James Darrell Mullins passed away on January 22, 2020. He was a longtime resident of Prince William County. He was born September 10, 1930 at McClure, (Dickenson County) and was 89 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents William James Mullins (11/21/1902-2/2/1984) and Virgie Lee Owens Mullins (1/26/1900-11/15/1985) and three brothers; Kyle Burns Mullins (died in infancy), William James Mullins JR (4/7/25-1/20/74), and Norman Reid Mullins (4/2/27-1/18/17).

He leaves behind his wife of 68 years, G. Alene Sluss Mullins; two children, Gary M. Mullins of Culpeper (Greg Vanover-life partner/31 yrs.) and Jamie L. Morris of Gainesville (Julian Davies, husband); two grandchildren, Sara Alana Jenkins Meshanko, Alyssa C. Fuller (and spouses); two great-grandchildren, Madeline and Amelia Meshanko and brothers/sisters and their spouses; Alice Taylor (Norman R. Mullins, dcsd.) of Haysi, Carol Mullins (Janet Ellis) of Flat Rock, NC, Wilma Mullins Woods (Delbert Woods) of Nashville, Tenn., Rita Mullins Hawkins (Morris Hawkins) of Kingsport, Tenn., Bobbie R. Mullins (Patricia Legg) of Grottos and Harold L. Mullins of Abingdon, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and extended family.

After graduating Clintwood High School, he worked at the Dodge Auto Plant in Detroit, Michigan. It was there that he was drafted and prior to being shipped out to Korea, he married Alene Sluss of Skeetrock in 1951. When he was honorably discharge and returned as a Korean War Veteran, they spent a short time in Michigan before he entered college at East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tenn. After completing his studies he received a Bachelor of Science Degree where he specialized in Remedial and Accelerated Reading. He continued to pursue his education via the G. I. Bill while also working part time delivering mail and at a hotel in Johnson City. While attending Knob Creek and Johnson City Brethren Churches in Tenn. He became interested in Christian Education.

In 1957 he accepted a teaching position in Arlington County and also agreed be part time lay pastor at the Dranesville Church of the Brethren. In the decades that followed, he preached at the Dranesville, Oakton and Nokesville Church of the Brethren and taught in the public school systems of both Arlington and Fairfax County Schools. He went on to get his Master’s Degree in Education at University of Virginia in 1962; a year after his daughter was born after they moved to Dunn Loring, Va. (Fairfax Co.). He taught classes at UVA and later became a reading specialist with the Fairfax County School system. In 1965 he and his family moved to the West Gate community in Manassas and the family attended the Manassas Church of the Brethren. He spent many years as a classroom instructor and Assistant Principal in the Virginia Public School system and after retiring from Fairfax County, worked for Houghton Mifflin Co. as a representative doing exhibits all over the country. He also served as Church Moderator for the Manassas, Midland and Nokesville Church of the Brethren churches. He was a lifelong member of the Democratic Party and a dedicated pacifist in the tradition of the Dunkard Brethren.

He was a devoted great-grandfather to his two great-granddaughters who called him “Pop.” He was an avid gardener and enjoyed sharing the fruits of his labors with family and friends. In later years, as gardening and lawn care became more burdensome, he and his wife moved into a condo in the City of Manassas in 2012 where they could more easily enjoy friends and family. His extended family has a deep history with the SW VA. communities of Caney Ridge, Fox Town, Clintwood and Skeetrock.

He will be interred at Quantico National Cemetery after a private service for the immediate family. There will likely be a memorial service in the spring open to all; details to be determined later. In lieu of flowers or other forms of sympathy, his family requests any donations go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.