I-Pariss Sims, 1750-1833.

II-7. John Sims, the fifth son and seventh child of Pariss and Keziah Royster Sims, was born near Winston-Salem, N. C., in 1794-see Chapter Three. He settled in the Tombigbee River area, near Pulton, Mississippi; married an Allen and had three sons, Reuben (360), James (368), and William Allen Sims (369), of which we have a record. The three sons and their descendants follow:

III-360. Reuben Sims, born about 1817, was married twice and had several children by his first wife, including John Sims (IV-361 below), the only one of which we have a record, and, two sons, Allen Bird Sims and George Washington Sims, by his second wife. The family Bible containing the records of the Reuben Sims family was destroyed in a fire that burned their home to the ground when Allen and George were small children. George was the youngest child, having been horn in 1861, shortly before his father died, according to descendants at Red Bay, Ala., with whom I visited in 1963. He and Allen Bird had a half-sister--a full sister of John, below, who married a Fizell, a minister, and lived in Nashville, Tenn., after the Civil War.

IV-361. John Sims, son of Reuben Sims by his first wife, was born in the late 1830s and moved to Wayne County, Tenn., shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. His great uncle, Robert Sims (11-1) and his family had settled there in 1833 -- see Chapter Four. The Natchez Trace passed through Wayne County and crossed the Tennessee River into Mississippi, near the area where John Sims was born. When he moved into Tennessee he settled near Cypress Inn, 20 miles South of the Indian Creek area where Sims relatives then lived.

After the Civil War, he was a member of the Wayne County Court and often spent the night in the 1870s in the home of my grandfather, Shields Sims (19), on his trips by horse back to meetings of the County Court in Waynesboro. My grandfather told me about his visits and spoke of him as a cousin. Esq. John Sims married and had the following children of which we have a record:

V-362. Irving Sims who married a Bromley of Wayne County and had a daughter:

VI-363. Leonta Sims, a school teacher at Iron City, Tenn.

V-364. Rufus Sims who was a City mail carrier at Florence, Ala., for many years. He married and had a son:

VI-365. Rufus Sims, Jr., who was a merchant at Florence, Ala., and had a daughter who was a school teacher.

IV-366. Rev. Allen Bird Sims, son of Reuben Sims (360), by his second wife, born in 1854; moved to Russellville, Ark. See record of his family later in this chapter.
IV-367. George Washington Sims, youngest son and child of Reuben Sims, was born near Fulton, Miss., in 1861. See record of his family later in this chapter.

III-368. James Sims, born about 1818; second son of John Sims (11-7).
III-369. William Allen Sims, born about 1820; third son of John Sims (11-7). He married and had a family of which we have the record of only one son:

IV-370. John Allen Sims of Kennedy, Ala., born in the 1840s. He married Betty Wallace and had the following children:

V-371. Perry Sims, deceased.
V-372. Lee Sims, deceased, He had a son:

VI-373. John Allen Sims of Memphis, Tenn.

V-374. Jim Sims of Jasper, Ala.
V-375. Brown Sims of Tuscaloosa, Ala.
V-376. Maggie Sims who married a Cash.
V-377. Aleta Sims who married a Crawford.
V-378. Richard Belton Sims, Post Master at Canton, Ga.
V-379. William Luther Sims, born in 1888.
William Luther Sims began the practice of law at Millport, Ala., and later moved to Columbus, Miss., where he was a successful lawyer until his death May 5, 1964. I had a brief visit with him in his office in October 1963, at which time he gave me the above information on his branch of the family. When his oldest son, John Francis Shields Sims, joined him in the practice of law they formed the law firm of Sims & Sims. Later his second son, William Luther Sims, Jr., joined the firm which the two sons have continued since the death of their father. William Luther, Sr., was a member of the Mississippi State Legislature in the early 1960s and was widely known throughout the State as a leading attorney. He married Sarah Lillian Cline, Aug. 15, 1912. Children:

VI-380. Ruth Evelyn Sims, born May 28, 1913; married M. P. Shepherd.
VI-3381. Reba Irene Sims, born Aug. 6, 1916; married a DuPont.
VI-3382. John Franklin Shields Sims, born Dec. 16, 1918; married Elizabeth Nell Carley, June 28, 1949. Children:

VII- Shiela Elizabeth Sims, born Nov. 29, 1951.
VII-Mark Carley Sims, born Aug. 30, 1953.
VII-Sarah DeMorris Sims, born May 31, 1955.
VII-John Franklin Shields Sims, Jr., born April 2, 1958.

VI-3383. William Luther Sims, Jr., a member of the law firm of Sims & Sims. He has two sons:

VII-384. Eddy Sims.
VII-385. Richard Sims.
VII-386. Richard Sims; employed in Post Office at Clarksdale, Miss.

 

Rev. Allen Bird Sims (366), son of Reuben Sims (360), was born near Fulton, Miss., June 7, 1854; died in Russellville, Ark., June 29, 1934. He married Margaret Lucinda Whorten in 1875. She was born Jan. 16, 1857: died March 8, 1917. Children:

V-387. Arthur Edmond Sims, born Aug. 30, 1877; died Sept 29, 1948. He married Georgie Martin Oct. 13, 1897 Children:

VI-388. William Loyd Sims, born Nov. 17, 1919; married Janie Bethel. Children:

VII-389. Jimmie Loyd Sims.
VII-390. Dovana Sims.
VII-391. Cathia Ann Sims.

V-3392. Walter Orlander Sims, born March 31, 1880; died Nov. 30, 1963; married Elizabeth Skinner, Feb. 24, 1901. She died Feb. 1, 1955. Children:

VI-393. Mary Estella Sims, born April 22, 1903; married Roy Jones, June 21, 1924. Children:

VII- Winfred Jones, born Oct. 12, 1925; married Violet Swope, July 6, 1946. Children:

VIII- Betty, Winfred, Jr., and Robert Lanney Jones.

VII- Kenneth Roy Jones born Nov. 24, 1930; married Savannah Roe Clay, April 13, 1948.
VII- Nettle Maruilline Jones, born Jan. 20, 1936; married Woodrow Kimbrell, May 10, 1956.
VII- Mabel Mine Jones, born Dec. 31, 1938; married Jerry Doan, May 28, 1961.

VI-394. Rev. William Allen Sims, born Oct. 1, 1906; Baptist Minister; married Nettie Vinson, Oct. 7, 1926. Children:

VII-395. Willma Juanita Sims, born Oct. 25, 1929.
VII-396. William Carron Sims, born Aug. 7, 1937; married Donna Gene Saunders, June 22, 1956.
VII-397. Ruth Sims, born Aug. 27, 1942.

VI-398. Truman Orlander Sims, born June 2, 1914; married Letha Vinson, Dec. 1, 1934. Children:

VII-399. Hoyt Elton Sims, born Oct. 17, 1935; married Helen Kindrick, Aug. 30, 1958; children:

VIII-400. Paul Allen Sims, born April 15, 1961.

VII-401. Troy G. Sims, born July 31, 1937; married Sherley Maulder, April 10, 1959.
VII-402. William Orlander Sims, born Nov. 31, 1940.
VII-403. Reyell Carl Sims, born Dec. 28, 1944.
VII-404. Mortis Lee Sims, born Nov. 6, 1951.

VI-405. Bennie Hansel Sims, been June 23, 1924; married Wanda Vinson, April 16, 1943 and had one son:

VII-406. Toney Edward Sims, born Nov. 13, 1944; married Larella Bawley, January 1964.
Wanda Vinson Sims died and Bennie H. Sims married Estella Martin, April 7, 1953 and had four children:
VII-407. Brenda Kay Sims.
VII-408. James Bennie Sims.
VII-409. Linda Diane Sims.
VII-410. Sheila Elizabeth Sims, born Jan. 27, 1961.

VI-411. Cletis Ethridge Sims, born April 9, 1927; married Wilma Sue Brown, Aug. 6, 1949. Children:

VII-412. Dennie Edward Sims, born Oct. 2, 1952.

V-413. Sophronia Jane Sims, born March 26, 1882; died March, 1942; married James J. Martin. Children:

VI- One son and four daughters.

V-414. Mary Adline Sims, born March 22, 1884; died in March 1939; married George Shinn, Dec. 2, 1902. Children:

VI- Bennie and Alma Shinn.

V-415.Martha Malinda Sims, born March 22, 1889; married Jasper Vinson, Nov. 15, 1906. Children:

VI- Elmer Vinson, born Oct. 19, 1908; married Naoma Willson. Children:

VII- Ellsworth Vinson.

 

George Washington Sims (367), youngest son of Reuben Sims (360), was born near Fulton Miss., Jan. 7, 1861; died at Red Bay, Ala., July 9, 1956 at the age of 95. He married Mary Elizabeth Lowery, Dec. 25, 1879. She was born in 1863 and died Jan. 12, 1945. See picture page.

He moved from Mississippi to Red Bay, Ala., early in life, where he prospered as a leading citizen, farmer and business man. He was a staunch Methodist lay leader and speaker, a charter member of the Red Bay church and donor of the land on which the church was built. For many years the Sunday nearest his birthday was observed by the church as George Washington Sims Day and he was the speaker of the day. He was a liberal giver to his church and to those in need. He was also able to give each of his children a good farm. Children:

V-416. Malinda Allonia Sims, born Jan. 17, 1881; died in 1919; married J. A. Sykes in 1914 and had two daughters:

VI- Mary Pauline and Laura Sykes.

V-417. Sidney Thompson Sims, born Jan. 19, 1883; married Jennie Sell in 1901. Children:

VI-418. Flavis Sims, born Jan. 23, 1902; married Etta T. Henson in 1925. They live at Corinth, Miss. Children:

VII-419. Arnold T. Sims, born Oct. 13, 1927. He married Roberta L. Wildman, Feb. 22, 1945. Children:

VIII-420. Tommie Lee Sims, born Oct. 19, 1947.
VIII-421. Ronald Wayne Sims, born June 26, 1951.
VIII-422. Rebecca Sue Sims, born Dec. 16, 1952.

VII-423. Jenny V. Sims, born Sept. 2, 1929; married John R. Fryer, June 10, 1949. No children.
VII-424. Jean Sims, born Aug. 15, 1932; married Edward D. Creason, Feb. 8, 1954. No children.
VII-425. Mary Wynelle Sims, born June 10, 1935; married W. E. (Jack) Oaks, Jan. 12, 1954. Children:

VIII- Debra. Jean Oaks, born Nov. 22, 1954.
VIII- William Gregory Oaks, born Nov. 1, 1955.

VII-426. George W. Sims, born Aug. 20, 1937; married Jeannie Fay Franks, June 24, 1961. Children:

VIII-427. William Todd Sims, born July 31, 1963.

VII-428. Faylene Sims, horn April 28, 1940; married Charles W. Gooch, March 19, 1956. Children:

VIII-Charles William, Brian Lamar and Fred Gooch.

VII-429. Larry Dale Sims, born Oct. 31, 1946; adopted in 1955 by Rev. W. 0. Lanford, a retired army officer and Methodist minister of Florence, Ala.

VI-430. Travis Sims, born Feb. 18, 1905; married Minnie Boyd, in April 1933. Children:

VII-431. Troy Lee Sims, born Feb. 27, 1934; married Mary Delighta Garrett, Jan. 8, 1951. Children:

VIII-432. Mary Joyce Sims, born Nov. 14, 1952.
VIII-433. Janice M. Sims, born June 25, 1963.

VII- 434. Ray Sims, born March 4, 1937; married Ilene Sartain, March 24, 1956. Children:

VIII-435. David Ray Sims, born July 25, 1960.
VIII- 436. Stevie Lee Sims, born July 23, 1962.

VII- 437. Wayne Sims, born Oct. 4, 1945.
VII- 438. Martha Jo Sims, born Jan. 16, 1950.

VI-439. Garvin Sims, Sept. 22, 1911; married Leona Blackard, Jan. 17, 1931. Children:

VII-440. Nina W. Sims, born May 4, 1932; married Ray Norman, Aug. 9, 1958. Children:

VIII- Toby Ray and Mary Kathleen Norman.

VII-441. Stephen Sims, born June 24, 1937; married Helen Lorraine Shappley, Sept. 3, 1961. Children:

VIII-442. Stephen Sanden Sims , born March 26, 1962.

VII-443. David Leon Sims, born Jan. 16, 1945-unmarried.

After the death of his first wife, Jennie Self Sims, Sidney T. Sims married Ollie H. Mims. They have no children. He is a farmer and postal employee.

V-444. Reaffus Solomon Sims, born Jan. 24, 1885, was married three times. His first wife was Carrie Johnson; married Nov. 12, 1905, and they had three daughters:

VI-445. Verda Sims (Wright)
VI-446. Tressie Sims (Gober)
VI-447. Zevie Sims (Wiggins)

Carrie Johnson Sims died and Reaffus married Blanche Rutledge, April 1923. She died and he married Sybil Farr, May 15, 1945. No children. He is a farmer and livestock producer.
V-448. Leonia Armanda Sims, born-Nov. 28, 1899; married W. L. Wren in 1904. Children:

VI- Everett, Willie, Rowe, Lurlie, Juanita and Thedra Wren.

V-449. Hattie Bell Sims, born Nov. 28, 1889; died Nov. 16, 1963; married W. M. Brown in 1907 [a descendant reports his name as William Westley Brown - sl]. Children:

VI- Flois, Cecil and Eulah Brown. Eulah married a Jones.

V-450. Terrell Sylvester Sims, born Nov. 1, 1891. He was killed in France in World War One, Oct. 14, 1918.
V-451. Leonard Austin Sims, born March 14, 1894; married Gertha Barton, July 19, 1919. He is in the automobile and gasoline distribution business at Red Bay. Children:

VI-452. Maxine Sims, born April 16, 1921; married Charles F. Brown, Jan. 10, 1943. He operates an automobile sales agency in Red Bay. Children:

VII- Leland Brown, born Dec. 21, 1945.
VII- Charles F. Brown, 3rd, born Aug. 1, 1951.

V-453. Ora Esther Sims, born Nov. 16, 1896; married Dock Segars of Fulton, Miss., in 1926. Children:

VI- Dr. Kelley Scott Segars, born March 11, 1930.

V-454. Dorothy A. Sims, born Oct. 14, 1898; married Forbuss Self in 1925. Children:

VI- Joyce Self (Daniels).

V-455. StelIa Cieo Sims, born Nov. 18, 1900; married Marvin E. Gray of Golden, Miss., in 1930. Children:

VI- Elmo Sims Gray.

V-456. Louis Etheridge Sims, car salesman, born July 24, 1903; married Ethel Cole in 1927 and had two daughters. She died in March 1938 and in February 1945 he married Evia D. Durham. They have no children. Children by his first wife, Ethel Cole Sims:

VI-467. Margaret Frances Sims, born Sept. 19, 1928; unmarried in 1964.
VI-458. Matier Sims, born July 3, 1932; married T. D. Tedford, July 16, 1950. Children:

VII-Cheryl Jean Tedford, horn May 5, 1952.
VII-Dicky Alan Tedford, born March 17, 1956.

Footnote: Roman Numerals indicate generations: Figures are Sims identification numbers.

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