Carrye Sims

Carrye Mae Drummond Sims peacefully departed for her Heavenly home on Friday, March 7, 2014, at Bayhealth Medical Center in Dover surrounded by family and close friends. She as 81. Mrs. Sims was born in Dover to the late Alma Drummond Robinson and Roscoe H. Johns. She was educated under the Dover Public School, attending the Booker T. Washington School and graduating from Delaware State College Laboratory High School. She went on to earn an associate’s degree from Wesley College in Dover and later, at the age of 69, she fulfilled a life-long dream by earning a bachelor’s degree from Delaware State University. She was recognized as the eldest graduate among the class of 2001. Mrs. Sims was a trailblazer. In the 1950’s, she had the distinction of being the first African American to join the secretarial staff at the Dover Air Force Base. She endured and overcame many challenges; persevering, she opened doors for others. She retired from DAFB Base Supply unit with more than 30 years of service as an administrative assistant. She embarked upon a second career with the City of Dover and retired again with 10 years of service. Mrs. Sims was a devout Methodist who grew up in Whatcoat United Methodist Church of Dover. She loved serving and worshipping in her beloved Whatcoat. She often credited her late grandmother, Mrs. Mae Johns, for planting the seeds of faith that inspired her spiritual growth. She held several offices in the church including local, district and conference president of the United Methodist Women. At the time of her death, she was vice president of the local unit. She was also a lay speaker, usher, communion steward, MYF advisor, and served as church secretary for more than 25 years. She also held membership in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. , Theta Zeta Zeta Chapter, the Ebony Red Hat Society of Dover, the Delaware State University Athletic Boosters and the DSU Alumni Association. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Sims was preceded in death by her late husband, Austin B. Sims and a brother, Donald Johns. She leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her life, two daughters: Charyn E. Scrivens (Darryl) of Waldorf, Md., Martha Sims Wilson (W. Earl) of Dover; and one son, Dennis Sims (Sharon) of Enterprise, Ala. Two grandsons: Julian Scrivens of Waldorf and William “Billy” Wilson of Dover; two brothers: Roscoe Drummond of Wash., DC and Charles “Bobby” Johns (Dover) of Dover. Two sisters: Lorene Robinson and Norene Griffin (Chuck) both of Dover; one sister-in-law Carolyn Sims of Coatsville, Pa. and one brother-in-law George Sims (Linda) of Lakewood, NJ. Two aunts: Inez Drummond of Dover and Mildred Drummond Franklin, of Smyrna, Del. She also leaves a “special daughter,” Pamela Williams of Dover, close childhood friends, Norman H. Casson of Arkansas and Jacqueline Spriggs Quinn of California, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carrye Sims, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Carrye Sims

May 14, 1932 - March 7, 2014