Dot Sims, born Dorothy Ellen Goodman, died Friday, August 28, 2009, at her residence in Pensacola, Florida after her valiant struggle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 2, 2009, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Jason Adams will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 1, 2009, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Dot was born on September 15, 1953 in Tifton. She had a servant’s heart and served as a volunteer scout leader and room mother. She served the community in organizations such as the Pilot Club, the Sertoma Club, ARC, Women’s Alliance, Gofer Club, Salvation Army, and other networking organizations, as well as serving on the Board of Directors for Pensacola Winterfest, being affectionately known as the “Chief Elf”.
Dot's life and death were marked by God’s grace and love, which were reflected upon any who happened to be so blessed as to have known her. She excelled at all she did and possessed extraordinary talents too numerous to mention. Of her many gifts, she is most remembered for the greatest virtue of all; love. She was surrounded by those she loved when she moved on and is surrounded by those she loved, even now as she enters glory with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We all mourn our great loss and though the world does not know it, we mourn for it as well because it is a little dimmer without her light shining in it. Who could behold a creature as beautiful as her and say that there is no God?
Dot is survived by her husband, John Arthur Sims; her daughter, Elizabeth Ellen; her son, John Andrew and his wife, Nelli; her two grandchildren, Madeline and John; her mother, Irene Wright; her step-father, Richard Wright; three sisters, Betty Junkins, Barbara Miller and Shirley Davis; two brothers, Bob Goodman and Ben Goodman.
For those unable to attend the service in Tifton, there will be a memorial service held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, Florida, to be announced at a later date.