Jeanette Irwin Sims - Obituary

eanette Amy Irwin Sims, 95, formerly of College Park and Annapolis, MD, peacefully passed from this life to the next on June 27, 2023 while in the company of her family. She was born and raised on her family’s farm– “Major’s Choice” –in Bel Air, MD by her late parents, Maye Hoppers and F.M. Irwin, Sr. along with four sisters and a brother. After graduating from Bel Air High School in 1946 she attended the University of Miami in Florida for two years before transferring to the University of Florida to become a member of the first co-educational graduating class. While at the University of Florida she was instrumental in establishing the Chi Omega sorority chapter. After college she moved to Washington, DC and began her career with the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. In 1953 she married Edgar Sims, Jr. and began a 60 year love affair that produced four children, 12 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. The newly married couple almost immediately ventured into the lodging business in College Park, MD, buying a small motel. Over 30 years of innovation and hard work, the Sims built the business into a sizeable enterprise that currently trades as a publicly listed real estate investment trust, Sotherly Hotels and a national hospitality management company, Chesapeake Hospitality. Jeanette was an active member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Paint Branch Garden Club, the Altar Guild for the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., University of Maryland Terrapin Club, Sherwood Forest Club, Columbia Country Club, Annapolis Yacht Club and numerous other civic associations and charities. After retirement, the Sims enjoyed spending time at their summer home in Sherwood Forest and their winter home in Naples, FL, entertaining their family and many friends. Jeanette was the consummate wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Ed Sims. She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Kim E. (Shaye) Sims of Chevy Chase, MD, Andrew M. (Susan) Sims of Williamsburg, VA, Christopher L. (Christy) Sims of Edgewater, MD, and Amy Sims (Brad) Loisel of Cary, NC; her twelve grandchildren:, Caroline Sims Laffite of Savannah, GA, Parker Sims of Silver Spring, MD, Ashley Sims Kirkland of Williamsburg, VA, Brittany Sims Bayly of Chevy Chase, MD, Lauren Sims Risley of Fairfield, CT, Andrew Mack Sims of Williamsburg, VA, Caitlin Sims of Edgewater, MD, Andrew Loisel of Clayton, NC, Courtney Sims Mackay of Ijamsville, MD, Melissa Loisel of Alexandria, VA, Victoria Sims of Annapolis, MD and Lindsey Loisel of Cary, NC as well as twenty great grandchildren. The Sims’ family will receive friends at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Monday, July 10 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. A private funeral service will be held at the Mt. Carmel Primitive Baptist Church in Bel Air, MD. Interment Mt. Zion Church Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be expressed by a donation to Mt. Carmel Primitive Baptist Church, PO Box 591, Forest Hill, MD 21050. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.