Margaret Elizabeth Sims

January 25, 1918 – January 25, 2016

Reverend Margaret E. Sims, 98, founding pastor of Memorial Park Church of God in Jasper, Alabama, passed away peacefully at home, on her birthday, to her eternal reward after more than 73 years of faithful service to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She attended Pacific Bible College in Oregon where she sang alto in a women's gospel quartet, performing throughout several states. She also attended Anderson College and Theological Seminary in Anderson, Indiana, and graduated in 1948 with a baccalaureate degree in theology. She was ordained and took her first pastorate at the Townley Church of God in Townley, Alabama. While pastoring in Townley, she answered God's call to start a new work in Jasper, Alabama, and the first service of Memorial Park Church of God was held in a rented house on February 15, 1953 with eight present, including co-pastors Margaret McCleskey and Betty Jo Teaford. During that time, Sister Margaret also planted the seeds for a new congregation in Fultondale, Alabama, with the first services being held in the back of a cleaner's shop. That congregation is today the Parkview Church of God in Gardendale.

While in Walker County, Sister Margaret befriended a young Southern Baptist preacher, Jerry Boyd, who felt called to begin a new church in Jasper, and she encouraged him in this endeavor. The Maranatha Baptist Church was born over 40 years ago and Sister Margaret was always a friend and welcome guest preacher throughout the years. The congregation made her an “honorary member” of their church in 2013.

Sister Margaret pastored a total of 15 years in Walker County (5 years in Townley and 10 years in Jasper), where her ministry was very fruitful in souls for Jesus. Over the years, she pastored a total of seven churches, including Holdon Heights Church of God in Orlando, Florida, River Forest Shores Church of God in Norfolk, Virginia, and Bessemer Church of God where she was the outreach minister.

In her later years, Sister Margaret served in the Pleasant Grove Church of the Nazarene in Pleasant Grove, Alabama, as children's pastor, Sunday School teacher, chaplain for the seniors' ministry, and choir member. She also began the church's drama ministry and wrote and acted in many of the early dramas. She started a bus ministry and brought in scores of children from the neighboring communities to services on Sundays and Wednesdays. Additionally, several days a week she held services in the many nursing homes throughout the area.

It is impossible to know the number of lives that were touched and changed through the ministry of this unique, vibrant, loving, gentle, incredible servant of God. She deeply loved people, especially the children, and felt a burden for souls that resulted in a legacy of service that will be difficult to match.

Rev. Sims was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Sallie (McAnally) McCleskey, a brother John McCleskey of Huntsville, Alabama, a brother Lloyd McCleskey Jr. of Virginia Beach, VA, and a sister Ruth McCleskey of Pleasant Grove, Alabama. She is survived by her sister Daisy Mitchell of Morris, Alabama, her niece Sandra (Jimmy) Pugh of Morris, Alabama, her nephew Perry (Carolyn) Mitchell of Morris, Alabama, her nephew Jack (Lynn) Mitchell of Atmore, Alabama, cousin Zack (Alene) McAnally of Huntsville, Alabama, cousin Roberta (Eugene) Moore of Gardendale, Alabama, several great nephews and nieces, and a myriad of loving friends and admirers who will miss her forever.

A celebration of Sister Margaret's life will be held at the Pleasant Grove Church of the Nazarene in Pleasant Grove, Alabama, on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Visitation will be from 1 until 2:30 pm, followed by a celebratory service with Pastor Bruce Hudson officiating. A Christian burial will follow at Walker's Chapel Cemetery in Fultondale, Alabama.