Wednesday, March 5, 2014 3:36 pm

Lela Willis Sims, age 95, of Spindale, NC passed away Saturday, March 1, 2014.

Lela was born in Mitchell County, NC on January 26, 1919, moved to Mt. Holly, NC in late 1919, then to Rutherford County in 1935. She became a wife and homemaker in 1938. Later she worked for 5 years at Ruth School Cafeteria.

Lela was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph M. Sims, her parents, Melvin Willis and Mae Greene Willis and three sisters, Julia Green, Chris Bailey, and Willie Mae Goode.

She is survived by three children, Melvin Sims and wife Nancy, Mary Helen Sims Toms and husband John, and Catherine Sims Walker and husband Joe; 10 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren and 14 great great grandchildren.

Lela was a member of Southern Baptist Church in Ruth since 1935.

Funeral services were held at Crowe’s Mortuary with Rev. John Perry officiating. Interment followed in Southern Baptist Church cemetery.

The family requests any memorials be made to Southern Baptist Church, Ruth or Hospice of Rutherford County.

Crowe’s Mortuary is serving the family.