Betty Roper Sims: Obituary

Betty Roper Sims

February 22, 1930 – December 10, 2018

Betty Roper Sims, 88, of Ellijay, Ga., passed away December 10^th at 6:30am after a long illness.

Mrs. Sims was born on Feb. 22, 1930 in Hiram, Ga. However, she lived there only two months before her parents, John and Mary Roper, moved to Atlanta where her father operated service stations for many years.

Her father’s service station was across the street from the library. As a child, she spent many hours at the library, and family lore has it, “Read every book in the library.”  She continued her love of reading throughout her adult life.

Betty worked for The Coca-Cola Company and typed dissertations for Georgia Tech doctoral candidates. She loved music and played the piano. She also enjoyed opera and attended many Metropolitan Opera touring performances in Atlanta.

She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Charles Edwin Sims, and her daughter, Mary Sims Smith.

Betty also is survived by a sister, Margaret Hindsman of Orlando, Fla.; a granddaughter, Jenny Ragsdale Smith (Jay Michael Nelson) of Bluffton, S.C.; a grandson, Casey Tyler Smith (Angela Matheny) of Marietta; and seven great-grandchildren: Mary Claire, Tucker, Charlie and Patrick Nelson; and Ethan, Katelyn and Owen Smith; and a niece, Susan Heard.

Mrs. Sims took her love of Christ to people through mission work with the Gideon’s Auxiliary women’s program in Georgia, where she served as chaplain and traveled all over the state teaching on prayer. Betty established a Christian school in Nassau Bahamas and taught Bible in the Atlanta Prison System. Her missionary work continued for 20 years in Canada, the Bahamas and Granada.

She and her husband Charles pastored Immanuel Church in Hiram, Georgia for 26 years.

A Remembrance of Love service will be held Wednesday December 12, at 2pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 7 Ewing St., Blue Ridge, GA 30513, Pastor Victor Morgan officiating. A reception to follow.

There will be no visitation at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Gideon’s International Ellijay Camp P.O. Box 1704 Ellijay GA in memory of Mrs. Betty Sims.

Bernhardt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.