Barbara Whatley Sims

Barbara Whatley Sims – age 73, of Mobile, died Sunday, September 16, 2012, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born at Mobile Infirmary May 10, 1939, she lived in Mobile County her entire life. She graduated from Citronelle High School and later earned her RN degree through Mobile Infirmary, her BA in nursing and a Masters in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling through the University of South Alabama. She worked with Mobile County Schools as a school nurse providing health screenings for special education students and crisis intervention throughout the county. A member of the American Nurses Association, the Alabama Association of School Nurses, and the Alabama Education Association, she was nominated for the Alabama State School Nurse of the Year Award in 1987. She served as president of the Alabama Association and secretary of the Alabama Commission of Nursing. Throughout the years of her professional service, she also filled many different capacities as a volunteer. She faithfully served in her churches in WMU and as a teacher at Bayou Sara Baptist, Lafitte Baptist, and, in recent years, Spring Hill Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School for 20 years at the James Strickland Youth Center and served on their Board of Directors. She also taught parenting classes for young couples in area churches. In 1999, Barbour Publishing released Mrs. Sims’ first book, Mama’s Homemade Love, which included stories about her mother, Helen Whatley. Her second book, Homemade Hospitality, published in 2001, documented her family’s tradition of opening their home to those in need. Golden Wisdom for Today’s Woman (2002) lifted the example of Godly women as a paradigm for young people. Mrs. Sims is survived by Don Sims, her devoted husband of 56 years; her sons, Mark Sims of Birmingham and Alan Sims of Knoxville; daughters-in-law, Debbi and Karen Sims; grandchildren, Sarah Sims, Ethan Sims, and Jessica Humphrey and her husband Nathan; great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn Humphrey; and brother Henry Whatley of Mobile. A memorial service will be held at Spring Hill Baptist Church on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, at 11 a.m. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 a.m. until the service hour. Due to the nature of her illness, and with great appreciation to those who help, the family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made in her honor to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) or to the Spring Hill Baptist Church Foundation. Please join us in honoring her life of giving by continuing that spirit upon her death. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com. Arrangements by Radney Funeral Home 3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama 36606.