Born November 29, 1909
in Perry County, Edna Myrick Sims, 100, passed away peacefully and quietly on December
18, 2009 at her daughter’s home in Ellisville. She was a former longtime
resident of Hattiesburg. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, December 21 at
Moore Funeral Chapel in Hattiesburg followed by burial in Highland Cemetery.
Reverend
Ray “Two Bits” Crawford, Father Tommy Conway and Brother Mike Cochran will
officiate. Pallbearers will be Wayne Myrick, Ike Farris, Larry Elkins, Ray
Gammill, Frank Brown and Mike Bush with Sonny Myrick, Bobby Allbritton, Lamar
Sims, Bart Farris, Sam Wells, Lin Toney and Dave Nichols serving as honorary
pallbearers.
She
attended the Mississippi State Teacher’s College in Hattiesburg (now the
University of Southern Miss), after which she taught First Grade at Runnelstown
Grammar School for thirteen years. She later worked for the Hattiesburg
Headquarters of the U.S. Military Selective Service during World War II. She
retired as the primary bookkeeper from American Sand and Gravel in 1997 at the
age of 87 after 46 years of service and was a Past Worthy Matron of Myra
Chapter #20 Order of the Eastern Star of Hattiesburg.
Mrs.
Sims was one of the oldest living members of First Baptist Church in
Hattiesburg, having joined in 1944. She moved her letter of membership from the
Prospect Baptist Church where her parents were Founding and Charter Members.
For some 20 years (from the mid 20’s to mid 40’s) Mrs. Sims served as the
church pianist – and she was a self-taught musician.
For many years at
First Baptist Church she co-taught the Joy Sunday School Class, whose members
were primarily South Mississippi Business and Professional women.
In
April of 1931 she married William Sims of Beaumont, who preceded her in death.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Agnes Allbritton
Myrick; a sister, Stella Myrick; brothers, Hubert, Dewey, Homer and Wert
Myrick; and a grandson, John Myrick (Myke) Farris.
Survivors
include her daughter, Jolyn Sims Farris Bush of Ellisville; a grandson, R.
Scott Farris of Hattiesburg; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation
will be Monday prior to the service at Moore Funeral Home beginning at 12 noon.