Barbara Simms

A TIME TO BE BORN... Barbara Eloise Myster Simms was born on June 28, 1941 to the late James Alfred Myster and Sadie Elizabeth Bailey Myster in Cambridge, MD. A TIME TO LIVE… Barbara received her early education in the Cambridge public school system and graduated with the mighty class of 1959 from Maces Lane High School.  She began her studies at Bowie State College and later completed her studies in Early Childhood Education, earning a Bachelor’s degree from Sojourner Douglass College. She was employed by the Dorchester County Board of Education as a Home Bridger and Early Childhood Educator and later Director of the Head Start Program in Hurlock.  For many years she also worked with developmentally disabled adults at Delmarva Community Services, Inc.   From an early age, she was an active member of Waugh Chapel United Methodist Church, serving on several committees and helping to organize the “Young Adult Choir” now the “Waugh Gospel Choir.” She share her strong alto voice as a member of the Waugh Gospel Choir until her health failed. She was a past member of Oziel Chapter #23 OES, P.H.A. Cambridge, MD. In her spare time, Barbara loved to read, work crossword puzzles, crochet and do arts and crafts. Until her eyesight failed, Barbara loved to cook, and her “hot rolls” were second to none. When her health permitted, she enjoyed spending time at the Hurlock Senior Center, socializing and doing arts and crafts. Barbara had a “Sweet Sweet Spirit”, to borrow the words from one of her favorite songs to sing. She was a very loving and caring person to her family and friends…anyone she met was never a stranger. On June 29, 2002 she married her sweetheart Virgil E. Simms, Sr. A TIME TO DIE… Even as her health continued to decline, Barbara said “I won’t complain.” On June 21, 2015 at the University of Maryland Medical Center-Baltimore, God gently closed her weary eyes for the last time, and she slipped into her eternal rest. She leaves to mourn her passing and cherish fond memories: her husband, Virgil E. Simms, Sr. of Hurlock, MD; loving and devoted daughter and grandson, Wyrita and Zhaden Myster, both of Cambridge, MD; sisters Mildred, Annette and Phyllis Myster, all of Cambridge, MD; brother, Jackie A. Myster (Joyce) of Woodstock, MD; stepchildren Vincent Simms (Laverne) of Hurlock, MD, Vaughn Simms (Karen) of Mississippi and Vicole Slacum (Milton) of Federalsburg, MD; three nieces, Regina Myers of Baltimore, MD, Kimerly Cornish of Ithaca, NY and Michelle Myster of Columbia, MD; one nephew Tyrone Myster of Baltimore, MD; great nieces Ronda, Robyn and Rona’e Myers and Isis Costa; great nephew Otis Myster and a host of loving grandchildren, great grandchildren, family and friends. She is also survived by life-long friends William and Carolyn Armstrong and Rev. Enez Stafford Grubb. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. Alonzo Myster and two sisters, Betty Myster Cornish and Eliza Ellen Myster, and a step-son Virgil E. Simms, Jr.