June Betts Sims
June Sims, 80, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, ran into the arms of Jesus on Monday, August 18, 2025.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 14, 1945, she was lovingly welcomed by her parents, Johnnie and Mildred. In 1951, they moved to Starkville, Mississippi, where she spent the remainder of her childhood. Due to her father’s continuing education and teaching career, she spent each year of high school in a different state. She first moved from Mississippi to Florida, then to Louisiana, and finally graduated from high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. After marrying Lamar in 1963, they shared 43 years together and welcomed four children: Carol, Wanda, Charles, and Shirley.
June was a talented artist in both oil painting and pencil drawing, especially gifted at creating detailed portraits. She worked at Branning Photography for many years, meticulously retouching each print by hand before digital editing came to be. In her free time, she enjoyed teaching art lessons to children.
Anyone who knew June knew that she loved the Lord and loved her family. She was selfless in every sense of the word. In addition to being a wonderful mother, she faithfully cared for her father during his battle with Alzheimer’s, cared for Lamar as he fought cancer, and helped raise many of her grandchildren. She was a fierce prayer warrior and sought to glorify the Lord in all she did. Never one for material possessions, she instead spent her days building up treasures in Heaven. After losing Lamar, she ministered to many women by leading GriefShare groups. Her favorite Bible passage was Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
A few of her grandchildren’s favorite memories with her include eating Neapolitan ice cream for breakfast, doing art projects, helping in the garden, and singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus every Christmas.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lamar Sims; her parents, Johnnie Betts and Mildred Betts McDavid; and her sisters, Carolyn Robertson and Kay Jones.
She is survived by her sisters, Cathy Sanders and Lynn Coleman; her children, Carol (Randy) Clark, Wanda (Stacy) Robinson, Charles (Jeannie) Sims, and Shirley (Todd) Willhite; as well as 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
All friends and family are invited to visitation at Harvest Point Baptist Church in Kosciusko on Saturday, August 23, from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 a.m. The family requests that guests wear bright colors in honor of June’s artistic spirit.
For online condolences visit culpepperfuneralhome.com
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