John L. Sims, Sr.

Sims, John L. Sr. Age 93. Born May 2, 1926. Passed away peacefully on July 25, 2019. Preceded in death by his parents Yancy and Evelyn, wife Hattie and life Partner Ada Hegion. He grew up in Birmingham Alabama and attended West Virginia State College where he received a BA degree in sociology. John next attended the State University of New York in Buffalo where he earned a Masters in Social Work and met his future wife. He served in the U.S. Army as a psychiatric social worker at Madison Army Hospital in Tacoma Washington. In 1951 he and Hattie Lewis were married. The marriage lasted 44 years until her death. They had two children, Harriet and John Jr. Thomas N. Talley, a nephew, shared the family home during his early childhood. John worked as a social worker for the Children's Home Society of Minnesota and at Hennepin County where he worked in Child Protection. He took a leave of absence to become project director of the Citizen's Community Centers, an anti-poverty program. In 1967 he returned to Hennepin County. He was appointed the Director of Economic Assistance in Hennepin County and retired in 1991. His many interests included golf, tennis, fishing, gardening, photo-graphy and world travel. He was an avid Twins and Vikings fan. After Hattie's death John found a companion and life partner in Ada Hegion. They enjoyed gardening, photography and travel together. He believed in public service, was a faithful member of St. Thomas and Holy Trinity Episcopal Churches and was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the Grand Boule of Sigma Pi Phi. Survived by his daughter Harriet, son John Jr. (Kiyoko), granddaughter Aiko, nephew Thomas N. Talley and many cousins. Special thanks to the staff at Village Shores - Reflections and Ecumen Hospice. Visitation will be from 5-8 PM on Tuesday, August 6 at Washburn McReavy Nokomis Park Chapel, 1838 E Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis MN 55407. The funeral service will be at 10 AM on Wednesday, August 7 at St. George's Episcopal Church, 5224 Minnetonka Boulevard, St. Louis Park, MN 55416. There will be a reception after the service and interment at Fort Snelling. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Children's Home Society of Minnesota or Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Paul. Washburn-McReavy.com Nokomis Park Chapel 612-721-1651