Dr. Paul R. Mullins

The following is an obituary written by Dr. Mullins' son.

Dr. Paul Raymond Mullins (September 22, 1962 - April 16, 2023) passed away on Sunday at the age of 60 at IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, after a yearlong battle with glioblastoma. A professor of anthropology at IUPUI since 1999, Dr. Mullins was a preeminent scholar in his field, who served as president of the worldwide Society for Historical Archaeology from 2012 to 2013, authored four books, and was named an IUPUI Chancellor’s Professor in 2022. He received a commendation from the Indianapolis City-County Council in August 2022 for his work with the city’s Black community, in particular his advocacy to bring justice to George Tompkins, the victim of a 1922 lynching. Tompkins’ death certificate, which had falsely labelled his death a suicide for decades, was updated last year to change the cause of death to homicide in no small part through Dr. Mullins’ work. 

Paul was a lifelong runner, a board games enthusiast, a notorious sweet tooth with a penchant for gummies, an avid follower of professional cycling, and a connoisseur of all things geek, especially Marvel, Star Wars, and Doctor Who. His wit, humor, and compassion were deeply appreciated by his family, his friends, the Indianapolis community, and his colleagues both in the city and throughout the world, and will be dearly missed. He is survived by his wife Marlys Johanne Pearson, his son Aidan Wayne Mullins-Pearson, his father Carroll Wayne Mullins, his brother Scott Andrew (Vickie) Mullins, and his nieces Lily and Janie Mullins. 

Paul's life will be celebrated privately by his loving family.  

Arrangements have been entrusted to Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home and Cremation Services.  All are encouraged to share thoughts, prayers, and memories with Paul's family on his memorial page found on the funeral home's website, www.ericmdbellfuneralhome.com .

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