Geraldine Norwood Sims

Please join us virtually for the memorial service via https://youtube.com/channel/UCCAqmTzfHomGn4NHrbFmWMw.

Geraldine Norwood Sims, age 85, of Cassopolis, died peacefully Wednesday, June 16, 2021.

Her life began February 12, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of eleven children of Jake Sr. and Ora Tunstall. 

Geraldine accepted Christ as her Savior at a young age and attended various churches throughout her life.  She wouldn’t allow anyone or anything to shackle her from achieving her goals serving her community and living a purpose driven life.  Geraldine was the life of the party and never met a stranger.  She cherished each moment spent with family and friends.  

Geraldine was born and raised in Chicago.  She attended Roosevelt University.  She went on to wear many hats throughout her life, including Block Club President, Real Estate Agent, City of Chicago Board of Health, President of AFSCME Local, Cook County Board of Review, Co-Director of Women United to Save Our Families.  She was a founding member and organized the Red Hat Sapphire Divas Chapter in Chicago.  She moved to Cassopolis, Michigan in 2005, where she was elected to serve as Village Council Trustee from 2007 until 2020.    

Geraldine will be greatly missed by family and friends.  She is survived by her daughter, Janice Thomas of Hazel Crest, Illinois; daughter-in-law, Annette (Claude) Hilliard of Chicago; five grandchildren, Sonya Sims-Hilliard of Chicago, Illinois, Shantell (Robert Slaughter) Sims-Hilliard of Nashville, Tennessee, Erica (Steven) Thomas of West Memphis, Arkansas, Brian Thomas of Hazel Crest, Illinois, Phillip Thomas Sims II of South Bend, Indiana; ten great grandchildren, Raven Wiley, Vontrell Hughes, Ciara Bell, D’Mario Thomas, Makayla Lumas, Jaslyn Lumas, Rashod Slaughter, Bryce Thomas, Baji Thomas, Phillip Thomas Sims III; four great great grandchildren; sister in law, Barbara Hunt Tunstall of California; favorite niece, Joyce Johnson of Chicago, Illinois; favorite nephew and caregiver, Anthony Johnson of Chicago, Illinois; and a host of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Walter Norwood; her second husband, Tommy Sims, Jr.; one son, Phillip Thomas Sims, Sr.; three sisters; and seven brothers.            

Family and friends will gather Friday, June 25, 2021 at 12 noon in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway Street, Cassopolis.  The service will be virtually streamed via https://youtube.com/channel/UCCAqmTzfHomGn4NHrbFmWMw.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis.  Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.

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