I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:7:8

Brother Walter Laddie Sims was born to John and Katherine Moor`man-Sims on April 28, 1919 in Union, SC. To this union 15 children were born, Richard, Arthur, Willie, Carrie, Katherine Sims, John Henry, Charlie (Shep), Vera, St. Park, Sallie, Katherine Ferguson-Hawkins, Lois, Anne Bell, Rosettea and Furman Sims.

Walter completed Elementary School in Duncan, SC. In 1936 at the age of 17, Walter Sims was drafted into the World War II Era, he was a gunner in the Army Air Force (Army Air Corp). Prior to his marriage, Walter had 3 children Joe Louis, David, and Margaret. Then he moved to North Carolina where he married Sallie Lash. To this union 3 children were born Crystal, Sylvia Walteena, and Walter Jr. Sims.

He became involved in a variety of business ventures. In 1950 he was baptized in the evangelistic effort by Elder E. E. Cleveland of the Seventh Day Adventist Church across the street from his Beauty Shop. He accepted Christ and the Adventist Message. During 1951, Walter moved from Winston Salem, NC to Detroit, MI with his wife Sallie Lash. They both joined Hartford Seventh Day Adventist Church on Hartford and Cobb in Detroit, in which later was renamed City Temple Seventh Day Adventist Church on Grand River and Clarendon. Walter and Sallie took active leadership roles in the church. While living in Detroit, he worked at the Chrysler Assembly Plant until 1958. Then Walter moved to St. Louis where he received his license to teach “Auto Body Mechanic” from St. Louis University in 1970. He also was able to open Sims Auto Body training school until 1980. Walter continued to own and manage Sims Auto Body Repair Shop at 6142 Page in Wellston, Missouri where he trained many young black men in becoming auto repairmen until he retired in June 2016. He sold the auto body shop to one of his former students once he moved to South Carolina to live with his son David and his wife Christy where they provided a loving home until his death. Walter Sims was honored with the “Greater St. Louis Honor Flight, Inc. to Washington, DC during the World War II Memorial ceremony in 2010.

Mr. Sims leaves to mourn his death to his good friend Elder Lucille B. Mitchell in Wildwood, MO. His children Joe Louis (Emma) Grayson, of Orangeburg, SC, David Dempsey (Christy) Cohen, of Greer, SC, Margaret Hutchinson, of St. Petersburg, FL, Crystal Chunn, of Detroit, MI, Sylvia Walteena Richardson, of Detroit, MI, and Walter Jr. Sims, of Detroit, MI.; one special God-daughter Earnestine (Tina) Grayson of Greer, SC.

Three sisters Annie Bell Sims, of Newark, NJ, Sallie Peake, of Welford, SC, Katherine Ferguson- Hawkins, of Greer, SC, Lois Cohen, of Welford, SC, and one brother Furman Sims, of Washington, DC. Last, but certainly not least, many grand-children, great-grand-children, great-great- grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and lots of friends.

Funeral Service Details
Family Hour 10 a.m.
Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Mayfield Baptist Church
1065 Rogers Bridge Road
Post Office Box 567
Duncan, South Carolina 29334
Interim Pastor/Rev. George Hicks