Judge Larry Sims was born January 21, 1945, in the southern Alabama town of Bay Minette, and he slipped gently into the arms of Jesus on May 15, 2024, at his home in Fairhope, with his wife, Sandra, the love of his life, at his side.
Psalm 37:23 declares that a person’s steps are “established by the Lord when he delights in His way.” Certainly, this was true of each step of Larry’s well-spent 79 years. He was a giant of a man with a humble heart and unwavering faith, living his entire life in a manner that reflected his deeply held Christian beliefs and principles.
With his parents, Judge and Cornelia Sims, Larry moved as a child to Prichard, a suburb of Mobile. He grew up in the Baptist Church and received Jesus Christ into his heart as Savior and Lord at an early age, beginning the eternal life he is enjoying today. He graduated from Prichard’s Vigor High School, where he was active in the Wolves athletic programs, especially excelling in basketball and baseball.
After graduation and a stint at the University of Mobile, Larry and his high school sweetheart, Sandra Browning, were married on December 6, 1964. They met at the church where both families attended, then dated for two years while still students at Vigor High. Sandra became his partner in life and ministry, and to this blessed union Daryl Scott Sims was born.
Larry began his stellar and successful career working in the accounting department at the Scott Paper Mill (now Kimberly-Clark) in Mobile, then with the Lipton Tea Company he quickly moved up the corporate ladder to accounts manager, andfollowing that with General Foods Corporation (including Maxwell House Coffee) as a sales planning manager. After years in corporate sales, in 1991 he joined Bud Paxson (founder of the Home Shopping Network and Pax TV, which became Ion Television) in establishing the Worship Network. For a while, Larry cohosted (with Lynwood Maddox, Sr.) the popular Countdown to a Miracle daily program on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s (CBN) Atlanta affiliate, Channel 46, before moving to the Charlotte, NC, area. There he served for 15 years as senior vice president with the INSP Network. In 2009, Larry founded the Sterling Resource Group that worked with faith-based media organizations and leading religious broadcasters around the world. He served on the board of directors of Benny Hinn Ministries, Discovery Ministries, and His Call Ministries.
Psalm 116:15 declares, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Certainly, this is true for Larry Sims, whose impact, both personally and professionally, is immeasurable. He will be remembered for his principled thinking, sense of humor, gracious nature, and most of all, for his deep love of his Savior. Only eternity will measure the impact of this beloved man’s life.
Larry is missed and remembered by Sandra, his loving wife of 60 years, his beloved son and daughter-in law, Scott and Angela, and cherished granddaughter, Hailey McCall.
A funeral service for Mr. Sims will be held Wednesday, May 22, at noon, at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel, 6040 Three Notch Road, Mobile, AL 36619. The service will be officiated by longtime friend Donald Price of Dallas, TX and special guests Keith Duncan and Dr. J. T. Guyton.
Friends may visit with the family in the chapel from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, prior to the service.
Interment will follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 6100 Three Notch Road, Mobile, AL 36619.
