Fort Worth Star-Telegram 
July 17, 1996 
Section: ARLINGTON 
Edition: ARLINGTON AM 
Page: 8 

Glenda Mims, Director of Agency for Handicapped 
MARY DOCLAR 
Star-Telegram Writer 
ARLINGTON - Glenda Mims, credited with shepherding the Handicapped Resource Association through a difficult financial period, died of cancer July 5 in Denver. Ms. Mims, 44, served as executive director of the Arlington organization from 1992 to 1995.

"At the time Glenda took over, yes, we were struggling," said John Dycus, former president of the association's board. "She stepped in and gave it all she had." Ms. Mims also was a strong supporter of increased opportunities for the disabled. Her daughter, Abra Mims of Arlington, said her mother attended the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 in Washington, D.C. Ms. Mims became acquainted with the resource association, whose mission is to promote independence for adults who are disabled, when she was working as a licensed vocational nurse for a resource association client in 1982. She later became head of a program that provided assistants for groups of disabled people who lived in an Arlington apartment complex. The attendants helped the clients with everything from getting dressed to making meals. She was named executive director of the association in March 1992. 

Olivia Acosta, an administrative assistant at the agency who worked for Ms. Mims, said the former executive director frequently pitched in to help clients when there weren't enough attendants. Ms. Mims also taught her staff how to live within limited financial means. "She was the one that kept us afloat," Acosta said. "As far as expenses and everything, she knew how to save money." In 1995, Ms. Mims felt she needed a change of pace and left the association to take a job training attendants with the Denver-based Atlantis Community, which promotes home health care for people with disabilities, Abra Mims said. In April, Glenda Mims was found to have brain and lung cancer, her daughter said. But she remained upbeat, insisting that her Denver friends mark her death not with a funeral, but a farewell party. "She didn't want a mourning," said Abra Mims, 21. "She wanted a celebration of her life." A memorial service for Ms. Mims' friends in Arlington will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at 500 Grant's Parkway. Donations may be made to Atlantis Community, c/o Mike Auberger, 201 S. Cherokee, Denver, Colo. 80223.

Copyright 1996 STAR-TELEGRAM INC.