Judge Billy G. Mills, a pioneering figure in Black political leadership in Los Angeles, died June 27 at his home in Leimert Park. He was 96. His death was confirmed in a memorial post by his son, James Edward Mills.
From City Hall to the Bench
Mills' public life took off with his 1963 election to the Los Angeles City Council, where he represented District 8 until 1974. On the council, he focused on tangible, street-level improvements - pushing to bring streetlights and paved alleys to South L.A. neighborhoods - and his colleagues later chose him to serve as acting mayor and president pro tem as the city navigated the aftermath of the Watts unrest, according to reporting by the Los Angeles Times.
Family Remembers a Quiet Public Servant
In a tribute on his website, James Edward Mills described his father as "the man who went to work every day," sharing photos and memories that place him squarely in the middle of the civil rights era. The remembrance highlights personal moments - including that Mills once officiated Muhammad Ali’s wedding - and reflects on a life spent balancing family responsibilities with public service, as recalled on Joy Trip Project.
UCLA Honors and the Family Scholarship
Before his years at City Hall, Mills broke ground in the legal world as the first Black graduate of the UCLA School of Law, later receiving a Public Service Award from the university, according to UCLA's alumni office. Today, the Dr. Rubye and Judge Billy G. Mills Scholarship at UCLA supports undergraduates from Los Angeles public schools who are interested in education or law, per UCLA Scholarships.
Legacy
Mills is survived by five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, his son wrote. Historians and former colleagues say his path helped open doors for Black political leadership in Los Angeles and left behind practical improvements across South L.A. that residents continue to benefit from, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
