James "Jim" Robert Mills

James Robert “Jim” Mills 1966 - 2024 

James Robert Mills (Jim), 57, of Durham, North Carolina, was tragically and unexpectedly lost on Friday the 3rd of May. 

Jim came into the world in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1966 to John Wesley and Shirley Curran Mills. The youngest of three boys, he started teaching himself how to play banjo at the age of 12. Jim was educated at Mill Brook High School, and after high school began pursuing his passion of playing Bluegrass music full time with the group Summer Wages. Jim would go on to work with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Barry Poss with Sugarhill Records, The Bass Mountain Boys, Ricky Skaggs (as a longtime member of Kentucky Thunder), Vince Gill, and the legendary Dolly Parton - as well as releasing his own solo material. Jim was not a stranger to playing the most storied stages of the world including the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall. He won the International Bluegrass Music Association banjo player of the year award six times (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006), earned the IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year for his Bound to Ride album, and won six Grammy Awards.   

Jim’s unexpected passing comes as a shock to his family, friends, and loved ones who are still reeling at the loss. Nicknamed “Smilin” Jim in the Bluegrass world, he was a truly joyful soul with an infectious smile that he shared freely with friends, family, and stranger alike. Outside of bringing joy to so many others with his playing, Jim enjoyed hunting and shooting skeet. One of the foremost authorities on the subject of Gibson pre-war banjos, he released a book on the topic in 2009. Upon retiring from the road in 2010, Jim stayed busy as a dealer of rare banjos and guitars while also holding seminars on the subject. 

In light of the sudden news, the family asks for privacy as they deal with this tragic situation. 

Jim was preceded in death by, his brothers Michael and Alan, father John, and mother Shirley. He is survived by his wife Kimberly Mills, his step-mother Mary “Annie” Roberts, mother-in-law Linda Gregory Mills, father-in-law George Neil Mixon, brother-in-law Robert Mixon (Kate) and nieces Hannah and Emma Mixon. 

A memorial service will be held at a later date.