Beatrice Harris

Auntie Beatrice Harris made this world a brighter place on September 11, 1934, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the seventh child of ten born to Floridell and Rev. Robert L. Sims.
Beatrice Harris, affectionately called "Auntie Bea" was employed as a cashier for First national Supermarket stores beginning with Pick N Pay and ending with the Finast store until her retirement. She was a member UFCW union grocery food worker, excelling in retail.
However, her true passion was singing for the Lord. She was a phenomenal gospel singer blessed with an angelic voice herself and a world-renowned choir director. The Sims family was one of the largest families that were an integral part of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in the greater Cleveland Mt. Pleasant community. The children had several duties within the church, with the most important duty being the choir. Bea, along with her siblings, sang in the choirs at Mt. Olive. She later joined Olivet Institutional Baptist Church as a teen under the pastorate of the late Rev. Odie M. Hoover, singing in their choirs and later moving her membership to Morning Star Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. Earl Preston, Jr. She loved singing and was compassionate about singing for the Lord.
She always attended music workshops and for over 60 years attended the Thomas A Dorsey Gospel Choir Convention all over the United States. She was a member of the Prestonians Chorale Ensemble. This gospel choir was advertised as Radio and Television Recording Artists, appearing on Cleveland's WKYC Sunday morning television gospel program. "I'm So Happy." She also sang with the Greater Cleveland Choral Chapter, The Voices of Praise with Leonard Burks, Morning Star Baptist Mass choir and the "trio" with her sisters, Thelma and Juanita every third Sunday.
She was also the Administrator and Director for the Sims Family Choir. As the family choir director, she kept the family choir engaged in rehearsals fostering a positive and focused environment that prepared the Sims family choir for successful concert performances.
God blessed her with a daughter, Rhonda Talley, a grandson, Isaiah Talley and a great grandson, Oziah Talley. She loved her family, especially spending time with her sisters.
Saving the best for last, her legendary iconic one in a million talents for baking cakes. The cherry cheese, the chocolate, the pound, the zucchini nut bread or the carrot cake, her secret ingredient that made each cake special and taste different than any other pastry was genuine LOVE. No matter the occasion or time requested, Auntie Bea would have a 5-star quality cake waiting for you.
Auntie Bea was called to her eternal rest on September 17, 2025, at the age of 91. She leaves behind her loving legacy through her daughter, Rhonda Talley, grandson, Isaiah Talley and great-grandson Oziah Talley. Two sisters, Thelma Walker and Olivia Cartwright; one sister and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and cherished friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers; William Ceasar Sims, Robert "DeeBee: Sims, and Ralph Sims; and four of her sisters, Janis McKinney, Mildred Champion, Jeroline Laney and Juanita Dawkins.
Auntie Bea's life was a testimony of faith, strength and generosity. She will be dearly missed and forever remembered.
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