Gary Jonathan Sims Services for Gary Jonathan Sims will be held Monday, October 18 at 11:00 at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Davey Wilkinson officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Mr. Sims, 56, of Meridian died Tuesday, October 12, 2010, at his residence. Jonathan was born July 26, 1954, in Wayne County, Mississippi. Jonathan was a very generous and caring person and would give to the needs of others before taking care of himself. He was a member of State Blvd. Baptist Church (now Faith Baptist Church) and he sang in the choir and sometimes played solo pieces on his trumpet. Jonathan and his parents moved to Meridian when he was two years old from Elyria, Ohio, and lived there most of his life. He attended Meridian Schools and graduated from Meridian High School in 1972. He was active in Cub Scouts and played the trumpet. He started playing the trumpet in junior high school and played until he graduated from Mississippi State University. He played first chair trumpet at the grand opening of the Super Dome in New Orleans. After graduating from Mississippi State University in 1977, with a degree in petroleum engineering, he was employed by Gulf Oil for ten years as an enhanced recovery engineer. He later formed his own company, Sims Petroleum and had approximately forty seven oil wells in the state of Mississippi. He later went to Mississippi Department of Transportation as an engineer in training and became a certified civil engineer. He recently retired from MDOT after twenty one years due to health problems. He is survived by his parents, Gary L. Sims and Barbara J. Sims, of Meridian and his sister Cynthia Elizabeth Sims Morton and her husband Ronald. Two nephews Bailey Morton and Addison Morton of Clinton; three uncles Alton Sims, Pearl; Roscoe Jones, Shubuta; Robert Jones, Jr., Waynesboro and an aunt Kathryn Chancelor of Quitman. He was preceded in death by his infant sister Joy LeAnn Sims, maternal grandparents Mr and Mrs. Robert L. Jones, Sr.; paternal grandparents, Reverend and Mrs. Thomas A. Sims. The family request that memorial be made to Heart Association or your favorite charity Friends and family may sign the online guest book at Rbffh@comcast.net. Visitation will be Sunday, October 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home.
