Juanita Sims Bridges, a virtuous woman, gracefully departed from this Earth on May 13, 2025, surrounded by those who cherished her. She was 94.

Born on June 6, 1930, to Lula Mae Hendon and Robert Gray Sims, Sr., in Hughes, AR, Juanita sought simple living filled with comfort, family, and God's goodness. She worked for five years for the state of Mississippi as a medical records clerk, but she preferred and excelled through her hard-earned titles of mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her true calling was caring for others.

She held strongly to her Christian faith and found solace in scripture, hymns, and biblical films, her favorites being "The Robe" and "The Shack." Fond memories of bygone days enveloped her ever-sharp mind, and she often shared them, regaling eager listeners with her historical tales. Dessert, such as cake or pie, remained her favorite meal, a fact she quickly reminded others should they somehow mistakenly consider it an unnecessary course; a mandatory side of ice cream was an understood, never a suggestion.

To know her was to know forgiveness, compassion, love, honesty, and even sass (a characteristic obviously inherited by all her daughters and granddaughters but none admit to). Her smile and laughter brought joy to all blessed enough to be in her presence.

She is preceded in death by her husband and love of her life, Wayne Larry Bridges, Sr.; her sister, Uneeda McMahan; her brother, Robert Gray Sims, Jr.; and her grandchild, Chris Watkins.

She will be greatly missed by her survivors, including her sister, Deborah Booth; her daughters, Barbara Watkins, Brenda Boykin, and Rebecca Boykin; her grandchildren, Tony Cianelli (Cori), Brian Watkins, Kristen Cianelli (Lindsey), Sara Barrett, and Laura Grice (Andy); her great-grandchildren, Jacob Bridges, Emily Bridges, Ayanna Watkins, Peyton Cianelli, Kayleigh Cianelli, Anthony Cianelli, Evie Barrett, and Hazel Cianelli; and a host of others she adopted and loved as her own.

Her visitation will take place on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 10:00 am at Wright and Ferguson in Flowood, MS, with a chapel service at 11:00 am. Following her chapel service, a graveside service will be held at Floral Hills in Pearl, MS.