I felt a shadow cross my heart...

Darlene Patricia Sims

September 29, 1945 - June 27, 2008

"It's not just a shame that they had to die, but that we have to live without them."- Neil Peart

Obituary
Darlene Patricia Sims was born on September 29, 1945 in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the first of five children born to the late Eli Green and Vernetta (Prince) Green. Darlene was called home by the Lord on June 27, 2008, making the peaceful transition in her East Cleveland home surrounded by family.
As a child she grew up in the Glenville neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland. She attended Chesterfield Elementary School and Patrick Henry Middle School. In 1963, Darlene graduated from Glenville High School. After high school she worked at the Sterling-Linder department store. In her spare time she traveled the country visiting both Washington, D.C. and California. In June of 1970, she earned her associate’s degree from Community College. In May of 1971, she married Howard V. Sims Jr. She had two sons H. Virgil Sims III and Damon Patrick Sims.
Darlene will be remembered as a devoted wife, a loving, supportive mother, and a true friend with a kind, enduring spirit. For 31 years she worked as a secretary at the University Hospitals of Cleveland where she displayed a strong work ethic and a warm disposition with her co-workers.
She was a member of the Friends Fellowship Bible Church. Darlene was an avid reader and loved music. She enjoyed learning new recipes, watching games shows and spending time with her friends – eating, laughing, and shopping. Darlene was never too busy to share her thoughts and wisdom with others.
She is survived by her husband of 37 years Howard Jr.; two sons, Virgil and Damon; mother, Vernetta (Prince) Green; one sister, Delores Green of Marietta, Ga.; three brothers, Eli Green Jr. (Martha), Kenneth Green and Tyrone Green; two half brothers, Curtis Moore and Luther Green of Chicago, Illinois, and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and neighbors.

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At 9:30pm on that Friday my mom took her last breath. I kissed her on the cheek and said goodbye. After calling Hospice I step out onto the front porch of her house, the same house I grew up in, and lit a cigarette. Trying to push back the tears, I looked down at the front steps and immediately thought about the time when I was four and I tried to ride my tricycle down those steps, I thought I was the black Evil Knevil. My mom was pregnant with my brother at the time and I can still see her dashing over to me trying to keep me from tumbling down the stairs. Unfortunately she was a tick too late and I bounced down the concrete steps on my face to the walkway below. My mom then immediately swept me up and tended to my wounds both physical and emotional. That was just one of the many times she has done that for me. Then as if on cue, a flash of lightning and the roll of thunder filled the summer sky, and then the rain began to come fall. I knew right then my mom was entering heaven.

Even after a week it is still difficult for me to believe that I will never see my mother again. She fought so hard to try to overcome her illness, as we fought right along side her. Unfortunately it was not enough. I miss her terribly now, and I know that I will miss her even more in the days, weeks, months, and years to come...