"…eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which
God has prepared for those who love him." I Corinthians 2:9

Charles Henry Sims, Sr. was born on January 22, 1935 in Trevilians, Virginia from the union of
Tom and Ruth Sims. He was the youngest of a distinguished family of five. Growing up under
the watchful eye of his grandparents, Thomas and Alice Sims, his education began at their knees
along with his two siblings. Understanding, establishing and maintaining of house and home
were the hallmarks of his early training and upbringing. He received his formal education from
the Number C School and graduated early from the prestigious Louisa Training School of Louisa
County, Virginia.

Education never ceased as he continued his studies at the Piedmont Virginia Community College
and the Fredericksburg Bible Institute in Virginia. On July 25, 1953 Charles married his love,
Fannie Lee Johnson. Heaven blessed this union with five boys and two girls. They spent their
early years of marriage in Washington D.C. until Charles completed building their home in
Louisa, Virginia. This is the home where they continued to love, nurture and educate their
blossoming children. After maintaining a work schedule that required him to travel from Fort
Meade, Maryland and Fort Lee in Petersburg, Virginia, Charles accepted a position at the Foreign
Science and Technology Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. As Charles H. Sims, Sr. is known for
his commitment and focus, he completed 30 years of government service before retiring with
numerous citations, acknowledgements and awards.

While these activities were the scheduled order of the day, the essence of his existence was
clearly defined when he accepted the call to preach the gospel ministry. Charles H. Sims, Sr.
accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at an early age at the Oak Grove Baptist Church
located in Trevilians, Virginia. It was at this church he was licensed to preach on May 17, 1964.
With the collective support of his wife, Rev. Charles H. Sims, Sr., began his pastoral ministry at
the Mount Olive Baptist Church located in Montpelier, Virginia in the Spring of 1965. The zeal
and power with which he proclaimed the gospel not only attributed to him being a highly sought
guest preacher and evangelist, but also impacted the success of his pastoral ministry. He served
as Pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church (Montpelier, Virginia), Eagle Baptist Church (Louisa,
Virginia) and the Main Uno Baptist Church (Madison, Virginia). After a decade of devoted
service to Mt. Olive, he accepted the call for pastoral ministry at the Thessalonia Baptist Church
(Fork Union, Virginia). During his stay at these "fields of labor" (as he called them) numerous
souls were touched and saved. The collective efforts of those memberships reflected the
exuberance of his pastoral leadership. Reverend Sims concluded his pastoral leadership after
nearly a decade at Thessalonia and two decades at Main Uno as he continued to serve the Eagle
Baptist Church. In December 2008, he retired from his pastoral service and received the Pastor
Emeritus Status. Yes, forty-three plus of continuous pastoral ministry or one could rightly count
nearly eighty years of service.

Because of the contributions in his faith walk and ministry, Reverend Charles H. Sims, Sr. was
bestowed an honorary doctorate degree from the Eastern Theological Seminary. The passion in
his service carried him to roles of community activism and liturgical leadership. As the
moderator of the Wayland Blue Ridge Baptist Association, he led in the constructing of its
historical headquarters in Rixeyville, Virginia. At the conclusion of his allotted terms and various
board chairmanships, Reverend. Dr. Sims was bestowed the Moderator Emeritus status.
Reverend Dr. Sims is well known in many circles and highly regarded among his peers. His
reach and inspiring presence was very welcoming. He will be remembered for having a word or
two or three or four in any meeting. Beyond his preaching and pastoral legacy is the fact that
Reverend Dr. Sims was always ready to pray for others, no matter when nor where… as he held
those hands tight while talked to God about the situation. When he prayed, he really prayed
believing!

Preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and close friend and brother-in-law, Thomas
Holland. He leaves to cherish his powerful, memorable presence and memories: wife of nearly
fifty-seven years, Fannie Lee Johnson Sims; children James Sylvester and wife Shirley (Irving,
TX); Charles Henry Jr. and wife Cynthia (Louisa, VA); Felicia Leona and husband Blake
(Charlottesville, VA); Stanley Eugene and wife Mary (Baltimore, Maryland); Ronald Eric and
wife Carolyn (Madison, VA); Christopher Thomas (Wilmington, DE); Florazella Lenora and
husband Roy (Madison, VA); twenty grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. He also
leaves to cherish his memories; sister Julia Holland and brother Thomas Sims and wife Lillie
(Mitchellville, MD) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, extended family members
and colleagues of the faith.

Visitation:
Sunday, May 23, 2010 ** 2 - 7 P.M.
Monday, May 24, 2010 **11 A.M.- 4 P.M.
Thomasson Watson Funeral Chapel.

Wake service:
Monday, May 24, 2010 ** 6 - 8 P.M.
Wayland Blue Ridge Baptist, Inc.
15044 Ryland Chapel Road
Rixeyville, Virginia 22737 540-937-2090.

Funeral services:
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 ** noon
New Life Community Church
509 East Main Street Louisa, Virginia 23093
with his son, the Rev. Christopher Sims officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bright Hope Baptist Church Cemetery, Louisa, Virginia.