Obituary of James Wood Sims

James Wood Sims, age 83, of Wadley, AL, Frogeye Community, passed away on September 28, 2023, at Clay County Nursing Home in Ashland, AL.  James was born and raised in Brighton, AL.  He graduated from Bessemer High school in 1958 and played football under the legendary Snitz Snider as his coach.  He received a football scholarship to Auburn University, where he graduated in 1962 with a B.S. in Business Administration.  His first job out of college was with Firestone Tire & Rubber Company with time spent in Macon and Albany, GA, and Jacksonville, FL.

After moving back to Alabama in 1972, Mr. Sims became affiliated with the bank in Wadley and graduated from the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University in 1982.  He retired as President/CEO of First Bank in 2000 and as a Director of the Bank Board in 2020.  Mr. Sims was an active member of the community and of his church, Roanoke First Methodist Church.  He was a past president of the Wadley Kiwanis Club, member of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Vintage Chevrolet Car Club, and director of the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Sims was predeceased by his parents, Paul B. and Catherine L. Sims.  He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Jean Nichols Sims; his two sons, James W. Sims, Jr. (wife, Susan) of Foley, AL, and Paul N. Sims (wife, Ellen) of Dickert, AL; grandchildren, Brooke Wheat (husband, Thad) of Auburn, Lane Sims (wife, Rachel) of Mobile, AL, and Shana Fowler (husband, Ryan) of Fairhope, AL; great-grandchildren, Ben Wheat of Auburn and Saylor and Chapel Stradley of Fairhope, AL; one brother, George B. Sims (wife, Joyce) of Hueytown, AL; and special cousin, Kathleen Cotney of Wadley, AL.

Pallbearers will be Lane Sims, Thad Wheat, Ryan Fowler, Jody Hodnett, Elliott Cotney, and Jared Kirby.  Honorary pallbearers will be Fred Railey, the Wadley Kiwanis Club, Open Door Sunday School Class, and current and former employees of First Bank.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at 3:00 PM at Roanoke First Methodist Church with Rev. Matthew Colburn officiating and the eulogy given by his sons, Paul Sims and James Sims.  Burial will follow at Wadley Cemetery with Quattlebaum Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

The family will receive friends at the church from 2:00-3:00 PM on Sunday before services begin.

Memorials may be floral or donations may be made to the Roanoke First Methodist Church General Fund, P.O. Box 40, Roanoke, AL 36274.