Mary P. Sims

Mary P. Sims of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, December 26, 2009 at her residence.

She was born April 5, 1917 in Bonifay to the late Henry Soloman Pennington and Mattie Mae Barentine Pennington; she came here from Bonifay in 1950. She was a retired sales clerk for Friedlander's Department Store and a member of the First Baptist Church. She attended the Florida State College for Women, where she earned her teaching degree and started her career as a school teacher in Bethlehem High School in Holmes County. She was an organist/pianist for many churches, including the Westside Baptist Church in Lake Wales for 35 years. She was also the staff organist for Marion Nelson Funeral Home and enjoyed singing at the Southern Gospel Singing Convention. Mary assisted her brothers in teaching Sacred Harp and Shaped Note Music and was a member of Ponce de Leon Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband of 73 years, Willard A. Sims in October of 2009 and a daughter, Mavis Christine Moore in 2002. Survivors include her daughters, Barbara Sims Henderson & Charlie J. Henderson of Winter Haven and Mary Ellen Sims Scott & Ronald L. Scott Sr. of Lake Wales; five grandchildren, Laura Lee Martin, Robbie Kincaid, Allen Henderson, Brent Kytle and Melodie Kincaid; four step-grandchildren, Ronald L. Scott Jr., Michael Scott, Ron Henderson and Regina Brossart; eight great-grandchildren; Sgt. First Class Jason Lamb, Tosha Lamb, Dustin Kincaid, Chasity Kincaid, Jeremy Haynie, Catie Kincaid, Christopher Henderson and Corbin Kincaid.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at the Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales with Rev. Scott Markley, Rev. Ron Henderson, Deacon Don Dewel and Rev. Kenneth Hardee officiating. Interment will follow at the Lake Wales Cemetery.

To view her tribute video, please click the link below:
http://videos.lifetributes.com/109195

To view her memorial website, please click the link below:
http://www.lifetributes.com/MaryPSims

To view the webcast of her service, please click the link below:
http://webcasts.lifetributes.com/109672