Virginia M. Sims 1932-2020

Virginia was born Nov. 24, 1932, in Youngstown, the daughter of James Henry and Rebecca Custard Eldridge, the eldest daughter in a family of 12 children.

She was a former and faithful member of Antioch Baptist Church, where her father-in-law, the late Rev. Frank Sims, was pastor. She sang in the choir from her youth, for many years. She also enjoyed the TV ministry of the Rev. Gene Ewing and the music ministry of Bishop Marvin Sapp.

Virginia was educated in the Youngstown School System and attended The Rayen School. She retired after working 29 years for North Side Forum Health, where she was employed as a radiology attendant for 24 years and retired from the North Surgery Department in 1997.

She was a member of the NAACP, AARP and a member of a ladies social and birthday club, known as the Cohesive Club, that she enjoyed, with a group of friends and co-workers. Some of her favorite pastimes were reading, sewing, gardening and social events and activities.

Virginia was the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman. She was a warm, loving and generous person and loved being a homemaker, and held a special devotion to all of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends of her children, welcoming everyone into her engaging home.

Virginia traveled extensively and lived on several military bases in the United States with her now deceased husband, Douglas Sims, an Air Force career man. She and Douglas were married Nov. 13, 1950, and were the proud parents of six amazing children and grands. In her travels, she enjoyed various cultures while on military assignments, living in different cities in the U.S., including Wyoming, South Dakota, Hawaii and Michigan. Upon Douglas’ 20-year retirement in 1967, they returned to their roots in Youngstown.

Virginia leaves to forever cherish her precious memories, her children, the heartbeat of her life, four daughters, Jeanette “Cathy” Cook of Norfolk, Va., JoAnn Elaine Robinson (Carrington) of Boardman, Tammie Dee Burgan of Yuma, Ariz. and Tanya Mims of Youngstown, with whom she made her home; and grandchildren, Tamara Ginell Sims of Youngstown and Travis Alexander Sims of Lexington, Ky., both of whom she reared, Brian D. Cook of Youngstown, Kristin Rose Allen (Fabian) of Chesapeake, Va., Jimese Evette McGraff (Michael ) of Tacoma, Wash., Coti M. Robinson of Boardman, Caryn K. Robinson of Norfolk, Va., Garrick Sims of Phoenix, Ariz., Christa Jeanette Hooker (Tyler) of Yuma Ariz., Cierra Lynette Sims of Yuma, Ariz., Charese Ann Sims of Youngstown, Davina Mims of Austin, Texas, Charles Arthur Mims of Atlanta, Ga., Lakisha Simone Sims of Newport News, Va. and Tamika Shantay Telfare of Newport News, Va. She also leaves her precious 23 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Leaving cherished siblings, mourning her great loss, are three brothers, John Davis Eldridge (Ratana) of Tacoma, Wash., LeRoy Benjamin Eldridge of Hawthorne, Nev. and Frederic B. Eldridge of Willoughby Hills; and two sisters, Verne R. Alt of Youngstown and Luvennia Dixon (McLelan) of Duarte, Calif.; and a host of extended family and friends.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; her devoted husband, Douglas; and with many heartbreaks over the years in the loss of a daughter, Brenda Joy Sims; a son, Douglas Sims Jr.; grandsons, Jarin Douglas Sims and Dirk C. Robinson; and a great-granddaughter, Jazene U. Peterson. Preceding her also in death were six brothers she dearly loved, six brothers, James Henry Eldridge, Ehrman Howard Eldridge, William Howard Eldridge, Henry Allen Eldridge, Leon Anderson Eldridge and Lawrence Wayne Eldridge.

A private memorial service was held Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, at 11 a.m. at the L.E. Black Phillip and Holden Funeral Home.

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