CROSBY — Services for Bennie P. Mims, 72, of Crosby, who died Friday, March 12, 2010, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be at 2 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Steve Purvis officiating.

Burial will follow at Mars Hill Methodist Church Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Bennie was born March 11, 1938, in Blackhawk, the son of the late James Benjamin Mims and Zula Mae Mims. On July 30, 1980, he married the love of his life, Lora Lee Vines.

He graduated from Lexington High School and Mississippi State University. He enlisted in the Army National Guard and served in Operation Desert Storm as a payroll and money exchange officer.

Before retiring from the National Guard, he also served in Germany, taking part in the recovery of troops from Desert Storm.

While working for the Mississippi Department of Human Services he was the director of the investigative internal audit bureau of legal investigation and retired as a special investigator.

He was a family-oriented man. He enjoyed farming and especially enjoyed working with his cattle.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman and a jack-of-all-trades. Friends and family would describe him as adventurous, caring and an all around good guy.

He was preceded in death by one son, Marc Mims; one sister, Wecie McGuire and his father-in-law, Dennis Vines.

Survivors include his wife; one sister, Shirley Blankinship of Columbus; one brother, O.C. Mims and wife Sissy of Greenwood; one daughter, Nita Rodgers and husband, Richard of Tupelo; one son, Buddy Mims and wife Krisha of Tupelo; two step-daughters, Cheryl Everhart and husband Mark of Vidalia and Kristie Welch and fiancé Tommy January of Monterey; one stepson, Marty Hammett and wife Diane of Natchez; five grandchildren, Maggie Ellis and son Wesley Sparks of Tupelo, Wade Ellis and children Paisley and Presley Ellis of Okolona, Buddy Mims and children Addie Mims and Mitchell Wren and Lacy Mims of Tupelo; six step-grandchildren, Nicole Decelle and fiancé Brian Kossum and their son Caden Kossum of Hattiesburg, Brandon Welch and wife Susan of Hattiesburg, Kacie Welch of Monterey, Dennis Hammett Jr. and son, Dillon Hammett of Splendora, Texas, Ashley Hammett and finacé Chuck Dodson and children, Colton and Hunter Brewer, all of Houston, Texas and Brittney Hammett of Splendora and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

Pallbearers will be Greg Perry, Brandon Welch, Richard Rodgers, Marty Hammett, L.H. Boykin and Tommy January.

Honorary pallbearer will be Tom Perry.

Online condolences can be left for the family at www.lairdfh.com.