Rev. Robert Elwood Sims

Reverend Robert Elwood Sims was born March 14, 1932, at the home of his grandfather in St. Elmo, Alabama to George Washington Sims and Mary Elizabeth Epperson Sims. He came to the end of this life on October 15, 2024.

Elwood received his early education in the public schools of Mobile County, graduating from Murphy High School in 1949. He was baptized in April 1941 and united with the First Baptist Church of Prichard, Alabama. He was ordained to preach in June 1952 at Prichard at the request of Macedonia Baptist Church of Bessemer. He held degrees from Howard College (Samford University), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the University of Montevallo as well as an endorsement in reading from the University of Alabama.

Although he spent a number of years in teaching and administrative positions with Dallas County Schools, Elwood’s primary interest and dedication was always to the Gospel Ministry in Southern Baptist churches. While in Seminary, he served churches in southern Indiana and, afterward, in Mobile, Perry, Dallas and Lowndes counties in Alabama, with the last being New Bethel Baptist Church in Braggs.

The desire to build a house with his own hands resulted in the erection of the current family home at St. Peter’s near Benton thirty-four years ago. 

From Elwood’s marriage to Sarah Ruth Epley of Gadsden, Alabama in 1951 has come a large, interesting and productive family. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children: Ruth Elizabeth Sims Moore and William David Moore of Tupelo, Mississippi; Dr. George Elwood Sims and Rev. Ruth Ellen Guice Sims of Nashville, Tennessee; William Lee Sims and Martha Lee Miller Sims of Huntsville, Alabama; Robert Lamar Sims of Kansas City, Missouri; and Michael Vaughn Sims of Benton, Alabama. His grandchildren are: Clifton David Moore and Ashley LeighAn Neal Moore (daughter Sophie Elizabeth Moore); Jason William Moore; Laura Eilzabeth Moore Bullock and Benjamin Wade Bullock (children Elizabeth Katherine Bullock and Thomas Andrew Bullock); Georgia Lee Sims and James Alexander Daugherty (daughter Molly Ruth Sims Daugherty); Rev. William Christopher Sims and Rev. Amy Katherine Hatchett Sims (daughters Lilly Katherine Sims and Sarah Lydia Sims); and Robert Andrew Sims and Stephanie Balunda (children Alex Elwood Sims and Charlotte Lee Sims). He is also survived by his sister, Eva Mae Sims Preston of Montgomery and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Elwood was predeceased by siblings John Earl Sims of Wilmer, Alabama, George Ezell Sims of Mobile, Alabama and Etta Pearl Sims Stephenson of Chickasaw, Alabama.

Funeral services will be at 1727 Mealing Road, Tyler, AL 36785 on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in the outdoor chapel at St. Peter’s, conducted by friends and pastors Lee Tate and Steve Stephens. Burial will follow in the St. Peter’s Cemetery, directly adjacent. The family will receive friends at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

 The family would prefer that, rather than send flowers, you make a contribution in Elwood’s memory to New Bethel Baptist Church, Sims Scholarship, c/o John Strickland, Jr., 1032 County Road 7, Minter, AL 36761. This fund has assisted students in the Braggs community for over twenty years and, with your help, can continue to do so for many additional years.