Funeral services for Mrs. Wanda Florence Grimes, age 91, of Hughes Springs were 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 12, 2024, in the chapel of Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in Hughes Springs. Burial followed at Harris Chapel Cemetery, under the direction of Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in Hughes Springs. There will be a time of visitation with the family from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Wanda Florence Sims Grimes, also known as “Giga”, passed peacefully surrounded by her loved ones and went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the age of 91. She was born October 20, 1932 in Newton, Texas.
Wanda was a 1950 graduate of Newton High School. She attended St. Joesph’s Nursing School in Hot Springs, Arkansas and graduated in 1952, receiving her degree as a Registered Nurse. She lived with the nuns while attending nursing school and earned money by ironing and other jobs to pay her own way through college. After graduating, she moved to Liberty, Texas and worked as an operating room nurse and an intensive care nurse.
She met the love of her life, Milton Ray Grimes, Jr. in Liberty, Texas, and they were married on August 14, 1954 at the First Baptist Church in Liberty. They uprooted from Texas and moved to New Orleans in January of 1956 when Milton was transferred there with Exxon. They both joined Bridgedale Baptist Church in Metairie and were members up until the time of their deaths. Her faith was very important to her. Her father was a Church of God preacher and preached revivals. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. She, along with her brothers and sisters would often sing specials at the revivals.
She continued nursing at Oschner Hospital in New Orleans as an operating room nurse and head supervisor. She has a few occasions to nurse some famous singers that were in New Orleans performing when they fell sick and when they were discharged, she flew back with them to California in Frank Sinatra’s private jet. She eventually went on to do private duty nursing for many years and retired from nursing in August of 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and they evacuated to their ranch in Texas.
When Milton passed away in August of 2015 and after 60 years of marriage to him, she moved in with her daughter, Robbye at the Ranch. She had a very strong work ethic, which started when she was a young girl. She helped her family plant and raise crops to make a living. She was no stranger to hard work and loved it. Up until just the past couple of years she had a very important job and she would let you know it too. She was the “Gate Opener” and cut and removed the net wrap off the round bales of hay when feeding the cows. And don’t argue with her about her job because she would be quick to tell you, “That’s my job. I’ll do it or Robbye will fire me and I will have to stay home.”
Wanda lived a very fulfilling life. She enjoyed needlepoint, diamond art, gardening, bird watching, looking at the cows in God’s beautiful countryside, traveling, and most especially, fishing. She had a saying that she told everyone, “If the truck goes, I go.” One of her other favorite past times was spending time with friends, her family and most especially, spoiling her precious great-granddaughter, Paisley Marie.
Wanda was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Milton Ray Grimes, Jr.; her parents, Ruhama Verona and John Wesley Sims; brothers, Wayne Sims, James Sims, Paul Sims, John Sims, and Jerry Doyle Sims; sisters, Nina Ruth Dillon and Laura Hendley.
Wanda is survived by her daughters, Robbye Lee Dennis of Hughes Springs, Cynthia Ann Wolz and Rickey of Slidell, Louisiana; son, Milton Ray Grimes, III of New Orleans; granddaughter, Brandi Lynn Yawn and Christopher of Slidell; sister, Mary Frances Golden and Sammy of Hughes Springs; and brother, David Randy Sims of Newton, Texas; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
She fought a good fight. She kept her faith. She finished her course and she is now safely home with her Lord. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone she interacted with.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Harris Chapel Cemetery Association (P.O. Box 23, Hughes Springs, Texas 75656) or a charity of your choice. An online guestbook may be signed at www.reeder-davis.com.
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