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Note: Obituary:
FUNERAL SATURDAY FOR HERBERT L. SIMS
Well Known County Farmer Was A Victim of Pneumonia
Herbert Lee Sims, 70, well known retired farmer, died at 9:30 Friday night after one week's illness with pneumonia. He had been in ill health for several years.
The funeral services were held at Hephzibah Baptist Church Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Dr. J. M. Thomas, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Talladega, officiating. Internment was in the Hephzibah cemetery. Usrey conducting.
Mr. Sims had lived at Renfroe all his life. He was born on January 16, 1864. He was active in the civic and political life of the community for many years.
Surviving are one son, W. H. Sims, one daughter, Mrs. Roy Hethcox, Talladega, three sister Claudia and Eunice Sims and Mrs. Mildred McDonald and one brother, J. T. Sims, Alpine.
Comments about Herbert Lee Sims from Miriam Dark Sims (daughter-in-law) to Lisa A. Baggett 4/2002:
Mr. Herbert was very nice to me, very very nice. He never imposed on us and was real intelligent. Mr. Herbert told me that he picked me out to marry his son after what Hugh had told him about me. He lived on a home near the river (Stemley Road Area) and loved my coconut pies. I would make pies for him, place them on a board, and Hugh would carry them to him during his mail route.
When Herbert Lee Sims died, he laid in state (his body) in the living room of Miriam and Hugh Sims. Memaw stated that they did not have funerals in that time, so this was a natural/normal part of the funeral process to have the body in view, at home, for visitors. She remembered there was a grave side service conducted when he was buried at the church. It was also told to me that someone did not like the suit Herbert Lee was dressed in originally after death so they dressed him in another suit of their liking prior to the viewing.
Herbert was very involved in the Democratic Party and was appointed a member of the County Campaign Committee in 1910, with Emmet O'Neal the parties nominee for Alabama Governor.
Mr. Herbert, as he was known in later years, was also known to be quite a character. He always wore a long black trench coat, summer, fall, winter and spring. It was said he wore this to cover a bulging hernia he had in later years. He lived on Stemley Road in the home that is currently located on the property across from Miriam Sims.
As a younger man, he also enjoyed in his weekly journey from his home in the Stemley Road area to the city of Talladega where he participated in good conversation, political debates and spirits at the local tavern. He once borrowed his father-in-laws horse for the journey but accidently left the horse in "town" and walked home. Most of the time, he walked to and from town.
At the time of his wife's death, as was the tradition in those days, the 3 children were raised by their maternal Grandparents. I am not sure what type of role Herbert took in raising the children.
Lisa Allen Baggett March 2003
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