Mills was born in Gray, a small town in Knox County, Kentucky to Dr. William H. Jones and Bertie (Steely) Jones. She graduated from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky and attended Eastern Kentucky State Teacher's College.
Mills was born in Gray, a small town in Knox County, Kentucky, to Dr. William H. Jones and Bertie (Steely) Jones. She completed her academic education at Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and later attended Eastern Kentucky State Teacher's College.