Juanita Holton Sims

Juanita Holton Sims, 80, of Valdosta was born at home on November 26, 1927 in the Southwest corner of Lowndes County in the backwoods by the Withlacoochee river; called Ousley/Lowndes county back then. She was the second child of the late Charlie Lee Holton and Thelma Albritton (also spelled Allbritton) Holton who were residing in the home of her maternal grandparents, Joseph Jefferson Albritton and Sarah Elizabeth Coldwell Albritton, who were members of the Redland Baptist Church. Her paternal grandparents were the late Mark Holton and Nancy Rykard Holton of Valdosta.

When Juanita was a teenager her family moved into the city of Valdosta where she attended Lee Street Baptist Church. Soon her father established a business in Fernandina Beach, Florida and moved his family there. At age 17 she met her future husband, Charlie D. Sims, who was in the U. S. Navy stationed at Mayport. They were married on July 20, 1945 in Fernandina Beach.

Mr. Sims moved his new wife to his parent's home in Winter Park, FL where she lived until he was honorably discharged from the Navy. They built a home and resided in Winter Park for nine years. Their first child was stillborn and three more healthy daughters followed. They moved in Casselberry, FL where they lived for two years, then returned to Winter Park living on Driver Avenue near his parents. Mrs. Sims began to attend Fairview Shores Baptist Church where her children, her husband and his father were all baptized on the same day. Later Mrs. Sims, her husband their children transferred to Killarney Baptist Church where she became a Sunday School Teacher.

Mrs. Sims was always a homemaker and dedicated bookkeeper/helpmate for her husband's many business endeavors. Their next move was to Mascotte, FL., then to Apopka, FL and then they moved to Valdosta sixteen years ago after her husband's retirement to be near her family; very near where she was born. Mrs. Sims is a member of Benevolence Baptist Church.

Mrs. Sims died peacefully at her home on Saturday, October 25, 2008 after suffering from renal failure. She was preceded in death by her firstborn child, Beverly Ann, her older brother, Walter Joe Holton of Valdosta and her younger sister, Nettie Frances Holton Cooper of Fernandina Beach, Fla.

Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Charlie D. Sims of Valdosta, their three daughters and sons in law, Mary Helen and Louis "Buddy" LaPointe, III of Marathon, FL., Betty Jean and Alan Alexander of Orlando, FL. and Brenda Cotton of Midlothian, VA., six grandchildren and their spouses, Shannon (Mike) Stuno of Alamogorda, NM., Brian (Denise Smith) Moseley of Plantation, FL., Robin Prozzoly of Carnegie, PA., Christine LaPointe of Marathon, FL., Mary Lynne LaPointe of Miami, FL., and Ashley Cotton of Richmond, VA., six great grandchildren, sister and brother in law, Sara Lee Holton Rowell and M. Thomas Rowell of Valdosta, brother and sister in law, Charles Cleveland Holton and Alice Kersey Holton of Thomasville.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm, Wednesday, October 29, 2008 in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with the Rev. Earl Justice officiating. Burial will follow in the Benevolence Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 7-9 pm at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Alan Alexander, Chip Holton, David Holton, Buddy LaPointe, Brian Moseley and Tom Rowell. Honorary pallbearers will be Phil Simmons and Foster Zipperer. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, P. O. Box 1727, Valdosta, GA 31603. Carson McLane Funeral Home.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602