Essie Sims

Essie Beatrice Sims was born on December 22, 1934, in Holly Grove, Arkansas to her parents, Levi Miller and Annie Mae Mitchell Miller. She was the 2nd of 8 children born in the family. She was raised surrounded by her brothers, Evander, James, Lacey, and her sisters, Ora, Wyomia, Jimmie and Stella. She received her early and secondary education in Arkansas where she graduated from Holly Grove High School. On February 26, 1954, Essie united in holy matrimony to Aron Lardell Sims. Aron fondly remembers when they first met, he told his friends, "he was going to marry that girl." To this union, Lawrence, Karl, Myron, Anthony, James, Aron, Jr., Marshall, Sharon, and Monica were born. They remember her as a mother who was caring, nurturing and took great pride in the care and nurturing of her family. She was later blessed with thirteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren, who all were an additional source of joy and pride in her life. They lovingly called her "Mother or Mother Bear" and fondly remember all the happy and memorable moments they all shared together. By profession, Essie was employed by the Denver Public Schools as a Food Service Manager. She was hardworking, dedicated and performed her duties with a spirit of excellence. She retired after working over twenty years. When asked, she would be the first to say that "her primary job was taking care of her husband and her nine children." If she worked outside of the home it was to help the family. While working for the Denver Public Schools, she worked to improve food conditions in her school and she was also instrumental in facilitating the first union for Food Service Workers in DPS. A woman of faith and belief in the Lord, Essie accepted the Lord as her personal savior at a very early age. She joined the Fountain Head Baptist Church in Marvell, Arkansas. She relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, and joined the Morning Star Baptist Church. Once she relocated to Denver, Colorado, she joined Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church and finally, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. Some of her civic organizations and affiliations include being President of the Holly Grove Homecoming Club, Denver Chapter, serving as Secretary on the National Level. She was also a member of the Capricorn Club. Essie was a fun-loving woman, who enjoyed life and those she encircled. In her free time, she enjoyed bowling, traveling, and entertaining family and friends during her Christmas and 4th of July parties. She was a person who never met a stranger. She will be remembered for her cooking, baking, and her incredible flair for fashion and style. She also had a distinctive singing voice. Her favorite scripture was found in Luke 22:42, when Jesus said, "not my will, but thine be done." She taught her family to understand that the meaning was to "live your life desiring to please our Father by serving Him." She will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known this kind and wonderful woman. To know Essie was to love her. She is preceded in death by a son, Aron L. Sims, Jr.; her parents, Levi and Annie Mae Miller; brothers, Evander Miller and James Miller; sisters, Ora Anderson, and Stella Miller; and grandson, Richard Sims. Essie Beatrice Sims departed this life to the embrace of the Lord on November 22, 2016. Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss include her loving and devoted husband, Aron L. Sims of Aurora, Colorado; 6 sons, Lawrence E. (Valerie) Sims, Karl I. Sims, all of Aurora, Myron R. (Darnell) Sims of Denver, Anthony W. Sims, of Aurora, James L. (Arla) Sims of Ft. Collins, and Marshall E. Sims of Aurora; 2 daughters, Sharon M. Broadstreet, of Las Vegas, NV and Monica L. (Pastor Malcolm) Guss of Aurora; 1 brother, Lacey Miller of Santa Clara, CA; 2 sisters, Wyomia Miller of Toledo, OH and Jimmie R. (Eugene) Johnson of Omaha, NE; 13 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 11/29/2016 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 11/30/2016 at 10:00 AM - Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church - 3301 Leyden Street, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 11/30/2016 - Following the Service St. Simeon Cemetery - 22001 Colorado 30 Aurora, CO