Obituaries 08/08/2019
Rachel Lee Campbell Herod
LITTLETON, Colo. – The first line of every obituary sums up the life of the person loved. One sentence is not enough to describe the depth of love for Rachel Lee Campbell Herod, who the Lord called home, at the age of 84. She passed peacefully, with her eldest son present, on the morning of July 30, 2019, in Littleton, Colorado.
Born in Pittsboro, Mississippi, Rachel was raised in nearby Bruce before settling in the town of Water Valley. Here she attended and graduated from high school, married, worked, raised her family, and made a warm and loving home.
Raised in a farming family, Rachel knew hard work. She was the oldest of seven children born to the late Mr. Silas Campbell and Mrs. Willie Victoria Steen Campbell. Rachel is preceded in death by her brothers, Silas William Campbell (Cecil), Oscar Campbell (Betty), Ishmael Campbell (Georgia), Mitchell Campbell (Mildred), her loving son, Michael Glen Herod (Bertina), and her husband, John Watson Herod.
Rachel took great pride in all she did to provide for her family. She loved and kept a beautiful garden and flowers. She was an excellent cook who made weekday spreads seem like Sunday suppers. At Rachel’s table there was always room for one more. She was known for her award-winning squash casserole, wonderful cakes and desserts. She and her late-husband, John, opened their hearts, never forgetting sick or shut-in neighbors and friends. They were “meals-on-wheels” for family and friends in Water Valley, serving up and delivering many of their home prepared meals.
Rachel was an avid quilter. In every stitch, she sewed a binding of her love. She shared her quilts with her children and grandchildren to celebrate special occasions. Wrapped in that love are her five heartbeats—stepdaughter, Charessa Diane Herod Brown, CPT (Ret US Army) Johnny Wayne Herod (Cynthia), Barbara Herod Hence, PhD-abd, Valerie Herod Belay (Mesfin Belay, PhD) and MSgt (Ret US Air Force) Anthony Bernard Herod; ten treasured grandchildren—Jerrell Herod, MD (Natalie), Rachelle Herod Aiken (David), Yoshia Hence, William Deon Hence, LCDR Marcus Herod, MD (Elaine Riefkohl-Ortiz, MD), Colorado House Representative Leslie Herod, Maia Belay Roberts (Wiley), Raven Belay, Paulos Belay and Ashley Herod Wambach (Nick); and eight great-grandchildren whose presence brought her joy—Alexander, Henry and Elizabeth Herod (Jerrell), Kendra Hence (Deon), and Aria, Lena, Isabella and Rowan Wambach (Ashley).
Rachel was blessed with an abundance of love that comes from being a member of a large family. To share in that blessing, she leaves two siblings – O.V. Campbell and Annie Campbell Robinson (William), four sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, and close friends. The presence of family and friends truly gave her comfort and joy.
Over the years, Rachel was a diligent worker outside the home. She sharpened her sewing skills while employed at Big Yank Corporation. She completed complex precision measurement and statistical training courses necessary for her job as a Quality Inspector for the automotive supplier, Borg Warner. Rachel maintained friendships with many co-workers long after she retired.
Although illness plagued her later years, Rachel clung to her faith. Gospel music filled her days and nights, bringing her comfort. She credited her upbringing in Zion Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Bruce with instilling her with the love of this soul-filling music. When time and illness stole her ability to attend regular services, her East Providence Baptist Church family in Oxford brought church to her door. Even while visiting family, far from home in the chill of Michigan, Rachel was found faithfully worshiping in the warmth of God’s light attending Transfiguration Church and Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.
Rachel’s family gives thanks to the Lord that through every trial in her life she remained strong, faithful and gracious. She was smart and full of spirit, and as loving as she is loved. Her family and friends miss her dearly.
Rachel’s abundant life will be celebrated with a wake from 4 to 6 p.m. on August 9 at Belle Memorial Funeral Home in Bruce; and with a service at 11 a.m. on August 10 at the church founded by her brother, Ishmael Campbell, the Church of God Our Father and Lord Jesus Christ, in Calhoun City. Burial will follow services at Zion Springs Baptist Church in Bruce.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice Foundation of America (https://www.hospicefoundation.org) or the Arthritis Foundation (https://arthritis.org) in Rachel’s name.
Robert Earl Sims
WATER VALLEY—Robert Earl Sims, age 73, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Baptist Memorial Hospital—North Mississippi at Oxford, surrounded by his beloved family.
Funeral services were held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, August 3, in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home in Batesville with Rev. Keith Burney officiating. Visitation began at 2:30 p.m. Interment followed in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery at Batesville.
Robert was born to Adrian and John Wesley Sims in Batesville, June 14, 1946. He was a Vietnam War veteran, and faithfully served his county. He devoted his life to working and caring for his loved ones. He was often referred to as “Pop, Papaw, Dad, and Uncle Robert” by his family, as well as others who had loved him over the years.
Along with his parents, Robert was preceded in death by his brother, Billy Joe Sims; his daughter, Michelle Sims Reid; his aunt, Bobbie Windell; his uncles,Tiger and Joe Crawley; and two nephews, John T. Gullette and Jeremy Baxter.
Survivors include his wife of 51 and a half glorious years, Zelma Sims of Water Valley; a son, Robert Stacy Sims (Pam) of Water Valley; one brother, J. B. (James) Sims and his family of Water Valley; five grandchildren, Steven Sims (Kelly), John W. Sims and Zack Sims, all of Gainesville, Ga., Caitlin Reid and Corey Reid, both of Water Valley; seven great-grandchildren; and multitude of extended family and life-long friends.