Obituary: Sims, Lydia Teresa
Age 91
SIMS,
Lydia Teresa
(Age 91)
Passed away June 23, 2012 in Seattle.
She was born November 18, 1920 in Penns Grove, NJ.
She and her five sisters spent most of their childhood in Summit, NJ.
Lydia dedicated her life to her husband, James McCormick Sims, three sons James Jr., twins Ronald and Donald and her community.
Her husband became an ordained minister serving as Assistant Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church for 10 years and as Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church for more than 25 years.
Both became active civic leaders in the Spokane NAACP.
During her EWU classes she was involved in desegregation in small farming towns in eastern Washington.
She was active with the Human Rights Coalition, Human Relations Council, League of Women Voters, the Washington State Advisory Committee of the US Civil Rights Commission, Director of the Spokane Affirmative Action Dept.
to secure employment for women and ethnic minorities.
She earned many recognitions and awards.
She is survived by her son Ron Sims and wife Cayan Topacio; daughter-in-law Carol Sims; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a sister and a host of nieces and nephews.
An “I Remember Lydia” Remembrance service will be held at 3:30PM Sunday, July 15, 2012 at New Hope Baptist Church, 409 S. Greene St., Rev.
Happy Watkins, pastor.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the New Hope Baptist Church Building Fund.