Merle Orice Wilson Sims
Hartselle A funeral service for Merle Wilson Sims, 93, was held April 30, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. at Hartselle Church of Christ with Justin Smith and Phillip Hines officiating. Burial was in Cullman Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Sims was born on March 19, 1932, in Geneva County, Alabama, to Thomas Porter Wilson and Sarah Jane Parker Wilson. She was the 7th of 10 children. She passed from this life on April 24, 2025, at her home on Coleman Street in Hartselle, Alabama, where she had lived for the past 6 years. She previously lived in Cullman, Alabama.
Mrs. Sims was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Dewey Alvin Sims; her son, Timothy Wayne Sims; a daughter in law, Mindy Sims; four brothers, Thomas Edward Wilson, James Leon Wilson, Homer Lowell Wilson and John Franklin Wilson; and three sisters, Fannie Bell Catrett, Gladys Marie Linder and Ocie Lee Miller.
Mrs. Sims was a minister’s wife; and was a bookkeeper at West Elementary School in Cullman for more than 20 years. She was a member of Hartselle Church of Christ for more than 7 years and previously was a member of Cullman Church of Christ, where she and her husband worked in the prison ministry. She loved to sing and sang at many funerals and events. Mrs. Sims loved to cook and was known for the delicious foods she prepared. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her much joy on the holidays when she cooked tremendous meals for them. She also loved to get them all to do a talent show for her. Her greatest desire was for all of her family to know the Lord and obey Him.
Mrs. Sims asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Childhaven Children’s Home, World Bible School, and ‘In Search of the Lord’s Way’ TV program.
Survivors include four sons, Darrell Sims (Sue), of Hartselle, Carroll Sims, of Cullman, David W. Sims (Gail), of Sharpsburg, GA, and Michael A. Sims, of Huntsville; her brother, Charles H. Wilson, of Texas; her sister, Margaret Wilson Humphries, of Florence; 11 grandchildren, Kristen Widick, Leah Garton, Tesha Brewer, Drew Sims, Joseph Sims, Sarah Sims, Jonathan Sims, Hannah Jackson, Anna Sims, Caleb Sims and Erin Sims; and 12 greatgrandchildren, Josie Widick, Lilyanna and Liberty Garton, Cayden and Ava Brewer, Walker Sims, Ali, Ava, Eli, Alex and Austin Sims and Alexis Jackson.
Pallbearers were her grandsons, Drew Sims, Joseph Sims, Jonathan Sims, Caleb Sims, Cayden Brewer, and Eli Sims.
