Melissa Sims Obituary

Melissa Renae Sims GEORGETOWN, SC - Melissa Renae Sims, born March 10, 1959, she was the daughter of Elizabeth Ann Mitchel (Jones Ward). She was adopted as an infant by Johnny Mack Jones (Barbara), and along with her brother, Mitchel Jones (Molly) was raised in Georgetown on the corner of Prince and King Street. Elizabeth remarried Don Ward (Barbara) who had a son, Mike Ward (Janna) and daughter, Dona (Tim Mauney). Melissa was a graduate of Winyah High School National honor society and then went to David Lipsom College in Tenn. She was a U.S. Navy Veteran serving in the Mobile Mine Assembly group detatchment 6 stationed in Charleston S.C., and Souda Bay Crete, Greece under Ronald Regan (Go Navy). She was honorably discharged and moved back to Georgetown and married Jim Harlan (Brenda). There she had her only son, James (Niki). She worked in administrative duties for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources at Dirleton Plantation. She then married Jackson "Jay" Lewis Sims, the love of her life. They lived at South Litchfield Beach and Georgetown. She was a true Southerner that stood for southern values and beliefs, always reminding everyone that Lowcountry was one word. In 1999, Melissa's sister (Kim, Al Leonard) that was given up for adoption as an infant came back into her life. They bonded and it was Melissas lifelong quest to find out who Kim's biological father was. Melissa loved watching her son James play baseball, and her nephews; Mikie Ward #47 (Georgia Southern), Cory Ward #48 (Apprentice school) and Jordan Ward #57 (Charleston Southern University) play football. She stood up to cancer by attending all of Jordan's home games at Charleston Southern last fall. She leaves behind two half-sisters: Jaye Elliott (Greg) and Tammy Jones (Jessica), numerous nieces and nephews. Melissa was a baptized member of the Church of Christ in Georgetown where she attended since early childhood. After a hard fought battle with small cell lung cancer, she generously donated her body to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine for research (Go Cocks). Melissa will be having two services - one at the Church of Christ Kensington on Saturday May 23 at 4 pm, which will be casual - flip flops, short pants and Pawleys Island Beach sand will be allowed. For her friends that can't make that one, there will be another service at the University Of South Carolina in April of next year, date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tidelands Hospice Georgetown culinary committee or the Georgetown Church of Christ. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston