Cathy Sims

Cathy Lynn Prairie Sims, 59, of Valdosta, was born on May 15, 1962, in Kankakee, IL to Richard James and Janet Elaine Adcock Prairie. Cathy married Thomas Sims on February 28, 1981, and recently celebrated 41 years of marriage. Cathy had a wonderful life as a wife and mother, her ultimate goal. Before she was blessed with Justin and Sarah, she was employed in the banking business at First State Bank for 7 years. She then became a stay-at-home mom raising her children. Eventually she enrolled at VSU and graduated Cum Laude with her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education. She received the Outstanding Early Childhood/Interrelated Education Student and Early Childhood and Reading Education Award in 2005. Cathy was also nominated and received the Office Max Classroom Makeover in 2010. Cathy was a member of Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society and Kappa Delta Pi National Honor Society (Alpha Beta Kappa) at VSU. Cathy was an excellent reading, math and language arts teacher. She excelled in her profession and passionately taught students in Lowndes County and Valdosta City Schools including at West Gordon, S.L. Mason, and Clyattville Elementary Schools. Cathy also taught Sunday School, Children’s Church, AWANA, and Vacation Bible School at church for many years. She enjoyed Ladies Bible Study at Redland Baptist Church where she was a member and worship services at Enoch Creek Church. Cathy had a heart for God’s word, and she lived her faith moment by moment. She will be remembered for her godly example of striving to be the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. Cathy’s hobbies included traveling, reading, decorating, and spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren.
Cathy is survived by her husband, Thomas Sims, and was a devoted mother to Justin Thomas Sims and Sarah Elizabeth Sims Davis, all of Valdosta. In addition, she was mother-in-law to Laura Odom Sims, and proud Nana to Emily Ann Sims, Anna Louise Davis, and Aubrey Jean Sims, all of Valdosta. Cathy has two brothers, John William Prairie (Allison) and Michael James Prairie (Lacherisa). Also surviving are parents-in-law Beth and Howard Lawson, of Morven, GA; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ann and Terry Reagan, Elaine and Jamie Southall, and Ginger and Dale Marshall; aunts and uncles, Don and Sylvia Prairie, of Madison, FL, Tom and Gayle Cammarano, of Florida, Barbara Kushel, of North Carolina, and Dave and Jane Adcock, of Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Janet Prairie, father-in-law William T. Sims, Sr., uncle Reiner Kushel and brother-in-law, Donny Shiver.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Redland Baptist Church with Rev. Jim Vaughan, Rev. Jay Watkins, and Rev. Zack Corbett officiating. Burial will follow at Ousley Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Enoch Creek Church in Lake Park, GA or Redland Baptist Church, of Valdosta, GA. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home