McKinley Sims, Sr., 91, of Chattanooga, passed away on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
He was known to many as “Mack”/”Sims”. He was born on Nov. 30, 1930, in Chattanooga, to William (Red) and Magnolia Sims. McKinley was the third of four children, one sister and two brothers. He married Lillie Ruth Sanders on September 15, 1948. They were married for almost 74 years. McKinley and Lillie had four children, Sheral Ann, McKinley Jr., Michael and Anita Ann.
He joined New Monumental Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. John Cooper, Jr. He was an active member of the church and served on the Board of Trustees and as Treasurer for many years. McKinley was also a member of the Usher Board and Security team.
He loved planting beautiful flowers at his home and very often planted them at the church where he also helped with many restoration projects. He enjoyed helping and taking care of folks in his church and community families.
McKinley retired after 35 years from the DuPont Nylon Plant where he was a rigger. If you asked a hundred people about conversations with McKinley Sims, they’d tell you so many things – times of working at DuPont; conversations on fishing, how to build a barrel barbeque grill, his time spent with the grandchildren being “papa”; building the perfect wood project; what’s the best vehicle for your dollar and of course he wouldn’t be “Mack” if he didn’t talk about saving your money. Whatever the story, rest assured you could always count on a good long conversation. McKinley, his stories, and conversations will be missed.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Sims; mother, Magnolia Weaver; sister, Helen Catchings; and brother, Robert Sims.
He leaves to celebrate the many years he was an important part of the lives of his wife, Lillie Sims; his children Sheral (Van) Foster, McKinley (Shelia) Sims, Jr., Michael Sims, and Anita Sims; grandchildren, Rosie Anetta (Mario) Gibson, NeKisha (Derrick) Ryals, Kendra (TyJuan) Moore, McKinley Sims, III, and Michael Allen Sims; great-grandchildren, Darian Yearby, Skye Ryals, Kaleigh Lounds, Catedria, and Timothy King; great-great-grandchildren, Caisyn and Cali King and Honesty and Timaya King; one brother, Carl Sims; a dear cousin, Okie (Marvin) Lott; treasured family friends, Julliette Brown, Tommie and Sarah Cook, Sue Kilgore and a host of other relatives and many friends.
McKinley will lie in state on Wednesday, June 1, at 11 a.m. at New Monumental Baptist Church with the funeral service to follow at 11:30 a.m. at the church.
Burial will be in Lakewood Memory Gardens, East. Due to COVID-19, masks are required.
Arrangements are by Taylor Funeral Home of Chattanooga, Inc.