Winifred Elizabeth Sims

Winnie Sims was born in Birmingham, Alabama as the only child of Arthur R. & Winnie D. Thomas. She attended Phillips High School where she met her future husband of 38 years, C. Ira Sims, while both were drummers in the band. She graduated from The University of Alabama in June of 1950 with a BS degree in Home Economics, majoring in Nutrition, and was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority. Winnie and Ira married on June 17, 1950. They moved to Houston in October of 1952 for better job opportunities. They were founding members of Holy Trinity Methodist Church, first meeting in Cimarron Elementary School before the church building was completed in 1954. Over all the years, Winnie served in most, if not all, of the offices and committees within the church.

Winnie was a Registered Dietitian, and after the births of her three children, she consented to being the Food Service Director of Rockglen Hospital which became North Shore Medical Plaza, Sun Belt Regional Medical Center and finally East Houston Regional Medical Center. She served for 29 years in hospital food service administration, sometimes for two hospitals at once in addition to consulting in Alvin and Baytown. She was a member of the American Dietetic Association and the American Society of Hospital Food Service Administrators where she held office as one of eight Regional Directors at the national level and spoke on the national stage for ASHFA.

Retiring in 1991, Winnie traveled the world, each time taking a few of her children and grandchildren with her. She always said, “I’m spending your inheritance, but you get to come with me!” She taught her entire family to love travel all because she wanted to spend quality time getting to know her grandchildren. Winnie lived by example for her family, friends and church. She never remembered a time when she did not know the LORD and said, “I want a big family, and I want my family to love each other.” She got her wish!

After attending a “Walk to Emmaus” long weekend, a non-denominational short course in Christianity, Winnie stated many times that she learned she was a “taker”, and that “I need to give back”. She began working Kairos Prison Ministry weekend #31 at the Darrington Unit, (now Memorial Unit) in 2003. With two Kairos weekends allowed in the prison each year, she never missed a single weekend, including Kairos #65 and #66 in 2022 where she served as a “day servant” at age 93. Her service in Kairos over 20 years was remarkable. She loved being in charge of the “Cookie Room” for most of those years.

Winnie is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Raymond & Winnie Davis Thomas, her husband Clarence Ira Sims, and grandson, Aaron Redding Sims. She is survived by: her children, Morris Raymond Sims (Sarah), Sharon Sims Jones (Glenn), John William Sims (Angela); her grandchildren, Diana Sims (Ginger), Grant Jones (Nicole), Arthur Sims (Jennifer), Garrett Jones (Haley), Whitney Coneby (Kenedy), Austin Sims (Ashley), Miranda Raders (Vance); and her great grandchildren, Asher Jones, Shepherd Jones, Maddox Jones, Liv Jones, Charles Sims, Lucy Coneby, Winnie Jones, Nolan Sims, Penelope Sims, Eloise Sims, and George Coneby. Winnie’s cousin, Patricia Kouts was like a sister to Winnie. The entire family remain close to Pat and her children, Susan Carnaby and Robert Kouts (Kathy) to this day.

Winnie is in heaven with her LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ, and she will be missed and always loved by her family and a host of friends.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialoaksfunerals.com for the Sims family.