AJ Mims Jr.

AJ Mims, Jr., 89, of Trenton, Florida, passed away on January 19, 2026. He was born April 30, 1936 in Janney, Florida to Albert “Bert” and Gertrude “Gertie” Mims. He attended Chiefland High School where he played football and basketball and was an active member and vice-president of FFA. He graduated in 1954 and married his high school sweetheart, Betrenda Brookins Mims on December 7, 1956. They had 2 children, Lynette (Langford) and Albert Mims. He was of Baptist faith. He and Betrenda tried farming for a while and then by 1960 he had become a welder for Williams Pressure Co. building the “pipeline”. While working on the pipeline, he and his family lived and worked in most all the eastern United States. He moved his family back to Chiefland when it was time for Lynette to start school. He worked as a mechanic for B & B Tractor, and he and his brother Larry began repairing radiators. In a couple of years, they opened Mims Radiator Shop and owned the BP Service Station. This evolved into designing and manufacturing pulpwood and log trailers along with custom work for loggers and farmers. They became Mims Equipment Inc. and added selling chainsaws to the business. They became the distributor for Stihl Chainsaws for the state of Florida and the Caribbean Islands. He and Larry purchased a retail store in Perry. Larry, and his wife Debra moved there and operated it. He and Betrenda were active in the Chiefland community and members of the Chamber of Commerce. He was named Business of the Year in 1985. Through the years he was able to hire and mentor many young men and women as employees. Most of them will tell you he was an influential role model in their lives. He installed a computer system for inventory in the 1970’s, the first in Chiefland. Computers and inventory systems became a new passion for him. In 1990 Mims Equipment was closed, and he and Betrenda moved to Jacksonville where he became a computer programmer for Little Champ Enterprises. In 2015 he and Betrenda retired and moved back to Trenton, Florida to live by their daughter Lynette. He was an avid Levy County “historian” and loved to share his childhood memories with anyone who took the time to listen. He was a man of few words, of quiet character and an anchor for his family and many others. He is survived by his beloved wife Betrenda Mims, son Albert "Jay" Mims of Fanning Springs, Florida, daughter Lynette Langford of Trenton, Florida, grandchildren Julee Mims, Kaylee Pate, Myles Langford, and great grandchildren Rowels Langford, Damaian Harrell, DeeAnna Harrell, Devon Harrell, Jackson Turner, Elizabeth Loos, Grace Miranda, McKenzie Durrance, Weston Durrance, Bradley Pate, 5 great great grandchildren, and many extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert “Bert” and Gertrude “Gertie” Mims, grandchildren Alesha Mims, and Jarrod Langford. Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Rick Gooding Funeral Home Chiefland Chapel, 1301 N. Young Blvd, with Rev. Travis Moody officiating. AJ will be laid to rest at Chiefland Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Arrangements have been placed under the care of the Rick Gooding Funeral Home Chiefland Chapel, with locations in Cross City 352-498-5400 and Chiefland 352-493-0050.

AJ Mims Jr.

January 30, 1936 - January 19, 2026