Juanita and Jim Mullins Pastors Jim and Juanita Mullins of Ashtabula, Ohio IPHC in the River of Life Conference celebrated their Fifty-Six Wedding Anniversary on April 22. Friends gathered at Erie, PA Golden Corral on Friday, and on Saturday they were at the Greenville, PA Conference with services and conference in the morning and at the noon meal all sang to them. The Mullins are active in their Conference.
Jim was born at War, W.Virginia. He attended Holmes Bible College in early 1950s and later took studies at Emmanuel. Juanita has been active in music all of her life.
Juanita Long Mullins, a performer in her early years with personal appearances and making records, came into the world in Johnson County, Kentucky, near the town of Painesville, in the waning days of 1930. Music found a way into her life at a very early age and she began getting attention for her singing when she was just seven years old.
Juanita's parents later moved to Waverly, Ohio then to Richlands, Virginia where she graduated from high school in 1950.
Her producer or manager was Eddy Ollikainen, who was also a guitarist on all of her recordings. A 1964 article indicates Eddie had a trio that backed her on her recordings. He was also helpful in getting her to record upon first hearing her sing Juanita's publicity manager was a Howard Mobey, a newspaper editor from Painesville who also worked out of Ashtabula, Ohio.
Country music artists back in an early era often found themselves working with a sponsor whether on the radio or for their personal appearances. In Juanita's case, her personal appearances included many Ben Franklin stores in their music departments as well as other similar stores that back then were called "five and dime" stores. She made visits to many radio stations, all through the southern part of the United States, tirelessly promoting her music.
Her popularity with the local folks was such that she was always in demand for funerals and weddings.
Juanita had published 4 song books in the early years that are now out of print and many of the old 45 rpm and LP records and sometimes found on Ebay since they are out of print.
Juanita and her husband are pastors at a Pentecostal Holiness Church in Ashtabula, Ohio. On most Sunday mornings, Juanita herself can be seen leading the services. Even hip replacement surgery hasn't slowed her down one bit. Juanita's family includes two daughters, Anita and Sharon and son Jimmy, Junior. All of the children are grown and living on their own. Sharon in Atlanta, Anita in Dunn, NC, where her husband Chris is pastor of IPHC on Carolina Avenue.
On display at their church is a case of memorabilia from her career, including song books, records and her DVD’s the DVD’s are available for a few and other mementos.
Juanita and her husband have lived the life that they preach--offering their home and support to over 100 foster children over a span of 40 years.
When asked to recount her life and career, she noted to her husband, "...life just flew by."
Credits & Sources
Jim was born at War, W.Virginia. He attended Holmes Bible College in early 1950s and later took studies at Emmanuel. Juanita has been active in music all of her life.
Juanita Long Mullins, a performer in her early years with personal appearances and making records, came into the world in Johnson County, Kentucky, near the town of Painesville, in the waning days of 1930. Music found a way into her life at a very early age and she began getting attention for her singing when she was just seven years old.
Juanita's parents later moved to Waverly, Ohio then to Richlands, Virginia where she graduated from high school in 1950.
Her producer or manager was Eddy Ollikainen, who was also a guitarist on all of her recordings. A 1964 article indicates Eddie had a trio that backed her on her recordings. He was also helpful in getting her to record upon first hearing her sing Juanita's publicity manager was a Howard Mobey, a newspaper editor from Painesville who also worked out of Ashtabula, Ohio.
Country music artists back in an early era often found themselves working with a sponsor whether on the radio or for their personal appearances. In Juanita's case, her personal appearances included many Ben Franklin stores in their music departments as well as other similar stores that back then were called "five and dime" stores. She made visits to many radio stations, all through the southern part of the United States, tirelessly promoting her music.
Her popularity with the local folks was such that she was always in demand for funerals and weddings.
Juanita had published 4 song books in the early years that are now out of print and many of the old 45 rpm and LP records and sometimes found on Ebay since they are out of print.
Juanita and her husband are pastors at a Pentecostal Holiness Church in Ashtabula, Ohio. On most Sunday mornings, Juanita herself can be seen leading the services. Even hip replacement surgery hasn't slowed her down one bit. Juanita's family includes two daughters, Anita and Sharon and son Jimmy, Junior. All of the children are grown and living on their own. Sharon in Atlanta, Anita in Dunn, NC, where her husband Chris is pastor of IPHC on Carolina Avenue.
On display at their church is a case of memorabilia from her career, including song books, records and her DVD’s the DVD’s are available for a few and other mementos.
Juanita and her husband have lived the life that they preach--offering their home and support to over 100 foster children over a span of 40 years.
When asked to recount her life and career, she noted to her husband, "...life just flew by."
Credits & Sources
- Hillbilly-Music.com wishes to thank Juanita's husband, the Rev. Jim Mullins for providing biographical information about Juanita's career.
- Country Song Roundup; No. 83; February 1964; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT