By Staff
East Orange, N.J.
Mr. Willie James &#8220Junior” Sims Jr., 62, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007, in East Orange, N.J. He was a native of Georgiana, a former resident of Brewton, and of Newark, N.J. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and a veteran of the U.S. Army from 1966-1968. He was a Vietnam War veteran, receiving the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service. After returning to Brewton, he went to the Evergreen Trade School. He moved to Newark, N.J. in 1971 and stayed there until he retired from the New Jersey Department of Transportation in 2004. While there he was a member of the New Salem Baptist Church where he served in the Male Chorus and Trustee ministry. He was preceded in death by his father, Willie James Sims Sr.; his sisters, Ruby Westery and Bernice Bernard Sims; and his grandmother, Annie Stinson.
He is survived by his daughter, Debra Sims of Pensacola, Fla.; four sons, Kenneth (Renee) Sims of Fayetteville, N.C., James Kelvin Sims of Virginia, Mark (Kelekia) Hambright of Montgomery, and Jeffery Sims of Lenoir, Md.; his mother, Bernice Sims of Brewton; four brothers, Clarence (Alice) Sims of Pensacola, Edward Sims of East Orange, N.J. and Frank Sims of Virginia Beach, Va.; a devoted friend and companion, Mary Dukes of East Orange; his grandchildren, Lamont, Shan, James Kelvin Jr., Kenneth D. Jr., Seqouia, Jasmine, Kendra, Kayla, Jamia, JaiVan'te, and Quinn; six great grandchildren; four aunts, Daisy Fore, Evelyn Johnson and Betty Sue Johnson, all of Pensacola, and Fannie (Willie J.) Morris of Birmingham; a special cousin, Albert &#8220Buddy” Fore, and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Pensacola with Joe Morris and Son Funeral Home in Pensacola directing.