Beth Carley Sims

Elizabeth “Beth” Carley Sims, age 96, died January 28, 2025 at her home. Funeral services will be Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at First Methodist Church with Vaughn Stafford officiating and Memorial Funeral Home directing. The interment will immediately follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday, February 8, from 10:30 – 12:00 preceding the service in Carolyn’s room of First Methodist Church.

Beth was born May 16, 1928 in Lyman, MS to the late John Talmadge Carley and Ruth Wilder Carley. Survivors include her daughters LaBet Sims Pritchard of Knoxville, TN, Carley Sims Page (Tommy) of Starkville, MS, and DeMaris Sims of Boulder, MT, grandchildren Kate Pritchard, Ivy Pritchard, Barrett Page (Julie), Thomas Page (Jessi), Sims Page, John Shields Sims III (Jenny), Spencer Sims, Evan Sims, and great-grandchildren Kylie Page, Jackson Page, Palmer Horn, and John Franklin Shields Sims IV. She is pre-deceased by her husband John Franklin Shields Sims, her son John Franklin Shields Sims Jr., and her three siblings. Pallbearers will be her eight much-loved grandchildren.

On January 28, 2025, we lost our queen and the angels gained one! Our GeGe loved flowers and lived in a garden of joy that she created. Her children and grandchildren were all flowers in her garden that she watered in her own unique ways. She was the glue of our family, the center of attention, and the light of any room she walked into. Her childlike, carefree yet caring personality made you feel like you were the most important person in the world to her.

Beth was a Richton High School cheerleader, Ole Miss Murder Bowl queen, and charter member of her sewing club, bridge club, garden club, supper club, and Lewis Fellowship Sunday School class at First Methodist Church. She was a true Southern Belle who loved to entertain and set the table for a party. She was a creative “inventor” and would have probably made our family famous if she had followed through with all of her great ideas! She had a mind like a steel trap and could remember everyone’s name, even their children and grandchildren, because she loved people. When asked why she always talked to everyone, she answered, “People just turn me on!” Her trademark color was orange which she wore while cruising down Second Street South on her decorated scooter blowing bubbles along the way while engaging neighbors. In her last few years, she loved rolling down to The General’s Park at 1st and 6th Street to welcome the sunset – her favorite time of day! Her long-time, dedicated caregiver and partner in crime, Wanda Sherrod, guided her though her golden years, cared for her every need, and helped make her life complete!

Even though she grew up in a different world than we live in now, she was always our biggest cheerleader and supported our choices. Her claim to fame was that she was the wind beneath her husband Shields wings, but the truth is…Beth Sims was the wind beneath all our wings – fly high, Mama!

Memorials may be made to Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System, Local History Dept., 314 7th Street North, Leukemia Research Foundation, First Methodist Church, or the charity of your choice.