J. E. Sims, 92, of Florence, SC went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

J. E. was born on September 3, 1932 in Florence County to the late Joe and Susie Springs Sims. He was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church and the Church on King Avenue.  J.E. was a veteran and served his country in the US Army.  He was a familiar face to many in our area through his work at Sears Roebuck & Company as an appliance-repair technician for many years.

He loved his family dearly and will be terribly missed. Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Frances Young Sims; children: Karyn S. (Mike) Wilson, Kathy S. (Brian) Padilla, and Warren (Shermiska) Sims; sisters, Merlee Shumpert and Molly Pittman; grandchildren, Michael (Johannah) Wilson, Matthew (Gabby) Wilson, Mary Berkeley (Kent) Gibbs, Hampton Sims, Jefthanique Ferguson, Tyler Ferguson and great grandchild, Campbell Wilson, as well as many loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Martha Ruff and his brother, Marion Sims.

J. E. was a committed Christian and loved reading and studying the Bible. He prayed faithfully for his family and friends. As he grew older, the urgency of reaching those that did not have a personal relationship with Christ grew stronger as did his desire to share his faith with them. While life became more challenging over the last few years, he also demonstrated this faith in the love, commitment, and how he cared for his beloved Frances.

J.E. enjoyed being around the people he had known all of his life, as well as those he met each day. He loved people- and he loved teasing those he loved. Whenever he met a stranger, he was always eager to connect with them by finding a mutual acquaintance. He just enjoyed people. His childhood was filled with hard work on a farm impacting how he viewed work throughout his life. He was proud of his years at Sears and helping so many. He worked hard at whatever he did with expectations of the same from everyone else. Fishing with his buddies was a passion and something he was good at, as well as telling the tall tales afterwards. He also delighted in cooking for a crowd and watching people enjoy it. J. E. treasured the special friendships that he'd had through the years, and always found joy in revisiting those memories together.

While our lives will never be the same without him here, we are so grateful for every precious moment God has given us with him. Thank you to all who have loved him through the years. We especially would like to express our overwhelming gratitude to the staff and his family at The Manor for all of the care, kindness, and love they have shown him.

A celebration of life service will be Monday, October 7, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mary Ingram Chapel at The Manor, 2100 Twin Church Road, Florence, South Carolina.  The family will receive family and friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service in the chapel.

Please sign the guestbook at www.laytonandersonfh.com