James William Sims-EL

JAMES WILLIAM SIMS-EL JR., also known as Brother Joshua, was born July 25, 1945 in Baltimore, Maryland to the late James Sr. and Lucinda Nobles Sims. James ascended from this plane of flesh to the plane of spirit on Monday March 3, 2008 after a brief illness.James attended St. Pius Catholic School K-8th grades, Booker T. Washington Junior High School 9th grade and Baltimore City College High School 10th grade until he transferred to Frederick Douglass High School where he graduated in 1964. He attended Baltimore City Junior College where he earned an Associate Degree in Urban Development and graduated from Morgan State University in 1991 with a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education.James met his lifelong soul-mate Guinette Agee in November 1963 and they were married in July 1967 and remained together until his ascension. From this union were born two sons and one daughter; James William Sims-EL III, Antar Sims and Azareah Naomi Sims-EL.James enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard in 1966 and after diligently serving the state of Maryland, he joined the United States Army Reserve in 1978 where he rose to the rank of Major and served until his retirement in 2005. James began his long career working for the General Motors Corporation in 1966 and held many positions throughout his 38 years of employment and retired as an inspector in 2004.James was an advent sports lover. He played baseball, basketball and football in high school, basketball while attending Baltimore City Junior College and played basketball on the court of Cloverdale playground. He coached Little League Baseball in the James Mosher League while his eldest son played for the Orioles. His love of sports was inherited by his children, all of whom played a variety of sports and he enjoyed every minute of it. He was faithful follower of Baltimore High School Football and Morgan State Football. James was well known for his great and at times unique sense of humor. You could always depend on him to make a joke of an situation and give one of his famous witty quips. For instance he would always tell people that his older brother of only five years was really his father and he did it so convincingly that he was believed. Anyone who knows James knows what a deep and strong love he had for all children, which was demonstrated by the more than 15 years he spent as a substitute teacher in the Baltimore City Public School System. He taught at such schools as Hamilton Middle School, Northeast Middle School, Lake Clifton High School, Baltimore City College High School and his alma mater Fredick Douglass High School. He touched the lives of many children; he loved every minute of it and would see many of them as he moved about in the community. Whenever they were out to dinner or at a sport event his wife would always hear, "Hey Mr. Sims-EL, what are you doing here and this gave him a wonderful sense of pride and joy.James accepted the teachings of the Honorable Prophet Noble Drew Ali and proclaimed his Nationally-Moorish American-in December 1975. James was a faithful member of the Moorish Science Temple, the Divine and National Movement of North America, Inc. #13 and committed himself to assisting in the Prophet's great work of uplifting fallen humanity. He reached a higher level of studies as an Adept and remained in the Adept Chamber-Third Heaven-until his transition. James continued his studies and grew in knowledge and embraced his holy name of Joshua Rahman EL Amenu-El I, and was then know to those who knew and loved him as Brother Joshua. Brother Joshua held many positions as National Director of Education.Brother Joshua was preceded in death by his parents the late James and Lucinda Sims, two brothers Hebra and Earl Anderson and two grandchildren.He leaves behind with grieving heart his wife of 40 years, Zattura (Guinette); three children, Joshua II (James III), Antar and Azareah; two brothers, Herman and Ronald Sims; niece Saundra Cooper; and nephew, Joseph Mayzck; and a host of other nieces nephews relatives and friends.

Tributes

James William Sims-EL

July 25, 1945 - March 3, 2008