Otis R. Tims

Otis R. Tims

Tupelo- Otis Ray Tims died December 12, 2025, at North Mississippi Medical Center, after seventy-three years of a life well lived and well loved. Otis was the greatly cherished husband of Susan Shaw Tims, the beloved father of Elizabeth Clark Tims, sweet brother to Elva Kaye Lance, and a deeply admired member of his community. Mary Gardiner Tims, his and Pamela Cox’s first daughter, preceded him in death in 2013.

Otis was born October 23, 1952 in Laurel, MS to William Elzie Tims and Inez Andrews Tims, named after his maternal grandfather, and was raised in Waynesboro, MS. Having lost his father at the age of four, he was raised by his mother and grandmother, Elva Andrews, a childhood which instilled in him a profound respect for women, and an abiding, empathic spirit.

He earned his Bachelor’s in Journalism, History and English at Ole Miss in 1974, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Mississippian, belonged to both Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Delta Phi, and was a Carrier Scholar and a Taylor Medalist, distinctions that helped place him in the university’s Hall of Fame. After a career working at newspapers such as The Commercial Appeal, The Greenwood Commonwealth, and the Clarion-Ledger, Otis returned to Ole Miss to work in the Chancellor’s office writing speeches, and later to earn his law degree in 1985.

In 1974, he married Pamela Cox and the two welcomed their first daughter, Mary Gardiner, in 1982, and their second, Clark, in 1989. Otis loved his daughters tremendously and shared with them a lifelong love of reading and the arts. Devout members of All Saints Episcopal Church, the family also volunteered their time at the Tupelo Community Theater, where Otis directed, acted in, and worked tech on numerous productions. He also served on TCT’s Board of Directors for many years and was awarded Best Actor by the Mississippi Theatre Association for his portrayal of C.S. Lewis in Shadowlands. He is also fondly remembered for his role as Santa Claus, with whom he shared a striking resemblance, in The Miracle on 34th Street.

Having maintained his signature mustache ever since his high school days, Otis experimented with shaving it only once; little Mary Gardiner was so disturbed by its absence, that he kept the mustache in place for the rest of his life.

Otis and Susan Shaw married on Thanksgiving Day 2003, which expanded his family with four step-children— John Morris of Knoxville, George Booth of Tupelo, Catherine Lacey of Mexico City, and Emily Owens Tanzer of Washington, DC. Otis and Susan’s marriage was one centered on gratitude—for their six children, for their faith, for the abundance of their lives, and for the beauty of the natural world. Avid travelers, one of their last trips together included a visit to the Grand Canyon and the deserts of the southwest. Otis loved nothing more than to surprise Susan with travel and generous gifts. For her 50th birthday, he told her to pack for a trip, but wouldn’t tell her where they were going until they boarded a train to New York City. Another year he surprised her with a concert of one of her favorite musicians in Atlanta. Susan and Otis also co-directed plays together at TCT, such as Noises Off and Of Mice and Men, and they always enjoyed scouring antique shops for just the right prop.

As an attorney, he was a trusted and scrupulous counsel to many clients. Generous to a fault, he often offered his services pro-bono, or conveniently “forgot” to charge for his time. As a passionate advocate for public education, Otis was very happy to serve for many years as the attorney for the Board of Trustees of the Tupelo Public School District. Having always found real purpose and meaning in his work, Otis was reluctant to retire from Mitchell, McNutt & Sams (in fact, he never got around to moving completely out of the office) where he practiced law for four decades, specializing in environmental law, and intellectual property among other areas of expertise. In retirement he served on the Board of Trustees for both the Lee County Library and First United Methodist Church, where he was also a Sunday School teacher and volunteered with the Helping Hands ministry. Sincerely faithful and always curious, Otis was reading and re-reading several books even into the week of his death, including A World Lit Only By Fire by Willam Manchester, The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Miracle on 10th Street by Madeleine L’Engle.

Having survived several bouts of cancer and the removal of one of his lungs, Otis received the difficult news of his cancer’s return and spread on his seventy-third birthday. His doctors estimated he had no more than a year to live, but he succumbed to his illness more quickly than anticipated. This has felt unusual to those of us who knew and loved Otis, who always, despite his many responsibilities and his demanding work, remained unhurried and ready to linger in a conversation or over a meal or to impulsively extend his travels by a few nights.

Everyone who knew Otis remembers his incredible intellect and loving kindness. His daughters, step-children, and his step-children’s spouses— Jennifer Morris of Knoxville, Stephanie Booth of Tupelo, Daniel Saldaña París of Mexico City, and Michael Tanzer of Washington, DC— looked forward to visiting his and Susan’s home in Highland Circle where they knew they could find a fascinating conversation with Otis. In addition to all the family mentioned here, Otis also leaves behind a niece, Dana Lance, and her partner Santiago Doyhenard, in Miami, FL.

He relished a rare steak and a glass of Cabernet, and a dozen fresh oysters hated to see him coming. His sense of humor and infectious laugh persisted every day of his life, and his generosity, above all, will be a lasting lesson in what it means to lead a life full of grace and gratitude. His daughter Clark will always remember the last little chuckle she got out of him at the hospital days before his passing, and Susan will treasure the memory of his crystal blue eyes.

Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. until service time Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at First United Methodist in Tupelo.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at First United Methodist in Tupelo with Rev. .Steven P. “Rusty” Keen officiating.

Memorials may be made to FUMC’s Helping Hands ministry.

Expressions of sympathy and fond memories may be made at www.PeguesFuneralHome.com.