Ross Simeon Sims
May 9, 1942 – October 15, 2026
Ross Simeon Sims, 84, of Cairo, GA passed away peacefully on October 15, 2026, at Legacy Village at Plantation Manor in Thomasville, GA, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Born in Ashland, AL on May 9, 1942, to Howard W. and Dula Sims (Ingram), Ross was Salutatorian of his Clay County High School graduating class. He continued his studies at and graduated with a Bachelor of Chemistry from the University of Alabama in 1966. He later received his teaching certificate from Valdosta State College.
Ross moved to Cairo after his college graduation and began teaching science at Whigham High School, where he also served as the yearbook sponsor and the timekeeper for the school’s basketball teams. He was very proud of his students, many of whom entered science and technology based professions, and he was equally beloved by his students. Ross was honored to be selected as the WHS Star Teacher in 1972, 1974, and 1975, and he was named as Grady County Teacher of the Year for the 1975-1976 school year. In 1977, Ross changed professions to begin a career as an Information Systems Engineer for the Florida Legislature, where he remained until his retirement in 2009.
Family was always a priority for Ross. In 1967, he married Ruth Vickers of Whigham, GA, and served as a father figure to her younger siblings, even as he and Ruth raised their own daughters.
Ross was a longtime member of Cairo First Methodist Church and served in a variety of capacities there through the years. He spent nearly 30 years as a Syrupmaker Band Booster, working many Friday nights in the concession stand before, during, and after his own children were in the band. After his retirement, he was a committed volunteer at The Grady County Help Agency.
In his spare time, Ross enjoyed fishing and photography, collecting antique cameras and even maintaining a darkroom in the family home. He also kept busy with various do-it-yourself projects around the house.
In addition to his parents, Ross was preceded in death by his brother Howard W. Sims, Jr (Doris) and his sister Martha Pomeroy (Sid).
Ross is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Ruth Vickers Sims; his daughters Rhonda Addington (Mark) of Nashville, GA and Rebecca Zillman (Marcus) of Lakeland, FL; his grandson Wesley Addington (Natalie) of Hahira, GA; his granddaughters Marilyn and Marissa Zillman of Lakeland, FL; his honorary granddaughter Samantha Elliott of Atlanta, GA; and numerous extended family members.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 19, 2026, at Cairo First Methodist Church, with his sons-in-law Rev. Mark Addington and Rev. Marcus Zillman officiating. Before the funeral service, the family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall of the Cairo First Methodist Church from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Cairo, GA.
Pallbearers are Mark Addington, Wesley Addington, Brock Vickers, Heath Vickers, Garrett Winters, and Marcus Zillman. Honorary pallbearers are Tom Brown, Ron Bush, Richard Elliott, Bill Gresham, James Mobley, Matt Mobley, Jack Pomeroy, Jeff Pomeroy, Jim Pomeroy, Joe Pomeroy, Gavin Vickers, and Nolan Vickers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association, donorservices.alz.org, Cairo First Methodist Church, or the Carnation Foundation, carnationfoundation.org.
