Mary “Joan” Sims, age 89, of Cumming, Georgia, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2026. She was born on November 6, 1936, in Gadsden, Alabama.

Joan was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and a source of encouragement and acceptance to everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Joan was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Miller Sims Sr. She leaves behind her five children: John (Susan) Sims of Marietta, GA; Charles (Donna) Sims of Waleska, GA; Joseph Sims of Cumming, GA; Mark (Melissa) Sims of Dallas, GA; and Angela Keith of Cumming, GA. She was also a cherished grandmother to 12 grandchildren and a proud great-grandmother to 18 great-grandchildren.

Joan had a lifelong passion for caring for children. Childcare was more than a career for her—it was a calling and a way she shared her kindness, patience, and love with generations of children and families.

She also enjoyed antiquing and treasured the simple pleasures of discovering something special and sharing time with others. Her faith and church community were an important part of her life, and she was an active and loved member of Creekside Church in Cumming.

Those who knew Joan will remember her as a cheerleader for everyone. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel accepted, valued, and loved exactly as they were. Her warmth, open heart, and unwavering encouragement touched countless lives. Her legacy lives on through her family, the many children she cared for, and all those who were made to feel welcome in her presence.

A memorial service celebrating Joan’s life will be held on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Creekside Church in Cumming, Georgia.

Family and friends are invited to come together to celebrate a life filled with love, faith, family, and kindness.

Joan will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.