Reverend Nathaniel Sims

Reverend Nathaniel Sims was born April 7, 1945 in Brooksville, Florida to the late Floyd Sims and the late Mildred Bush. Reverend Sims received his formal education in the Hernando County Public School System. He was a fun student, known for his sense of humor and pranks. He excelled in music and playing the trumpet. Immediately following graduation from Moton High School (the Mighty Bulldogs), he relocated to New York with relatives. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted into the United States Army, serving one tour of duty during the Vietnam era and returned to reside in New York. After years of living in New York, he turned his life over to Christ and made the commitment to live for the Lord as a witness and sharing in God’s work. Once answering the call into the ministry, he returned to school and earned his bachelor degree from the College of New Rochelle, New York and continued on in school earning his Master’s degree from Fordham University Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education. Reverend Sims returned to Brooksville in 1997 after thirty-three-years, with his beautifully spirited, kind-hearted wife, the late Ardell Sims. Upon his return, he served faithfully in his home church, Bethlehem Progressive Baptist Church. He worked in the community and began a weekly community bible study. Aligned with the Christian community, he joined the Hernando County Ministerial -Layman Alliance and served as its president. He also served in the community as a member of the Hernando County Housing Authority. Reverend Sims was an educator and taught school in both Pasco and Hillsborough County. In his later years, Reverend Sims was employed by Polk County Correctional Institute as a Transitional Coordinator until his retirement. In fulfilling his God ordained assignments, Reverend Sims was installed as the 13th Pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Dade City, Florida, on March 27, 2004 and served twenty years faithfully. Reverend Sims served many stations in life and fulfilled many assignments, but on June 26, 2024, he completed all of those assignments. He is preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Mildred Sims; wife, Ardell Sims; son, Justin Sims; grandson, Savion Sims; brothers, Tommy Floyd Sims, Reverend Wilbur Bush, Jimmy Griffin, Jerome Griffin, Sr., and Wallace Reese; and sister, Betty Sims Bass. He is survived by a loving family to include: one daughter, Natalie Sims of St. Albans, New York: three granddaughters, who he and his late wife raised as their own, Aryal, Aryana and Aryane Sims; three sisters, Mary Isabell Harris (Henry Sr.), Evangelist Johnnie Ruth Griffin, and Dr. Sharon Vickers-Cook; a dedicated sister-in-law, Sheila Griffin and Geraldine Stratton; brothers-in-law, John Stratton and Edward Mingo; uncle, Willie (Billie) Roberts; eight nieces, Linda Baker (Minister Kirby), Synita Murray, Kymberly Harris Williams (Adrian), Prophetess Torsha Griffin, Wanda Griffin, LeRoyal Vickers, Sharion LeToya Vickers, Andrea (Joy) Griffin; Nephews, Victor Fletcher, Roberts David Campbell, Henry Harris, Jr. (Ronjaneen), Tommy Harris, E’tinne Saunders, Leroy Vickers, Jr. Jerome Griffin, Jr., Christopher Griffin, Keltwon Newberry (Jenny) Griffin, Michael Griffin and Lamar Griffin; and a multitude of loving great nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, church family and sorrowing friends too numerous to mention.

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