Why It’s Named Sims Park: Honoring Lee Sims and the Hope He Helped Build
Some names are chosen because they sound right.
Sims Park was named because the story behind it is what Hope for Coffee is about: faith in action, sacrifice, and a community deciding that tragedy won’t get the final word.
Sims Park is more than land on a map. It is the future site of a new housing development on Alunza Street for individuals displaced by Hurricane Helene—a project made possible through Hope for Coffee, The Hope Initiative, and key community partners.
But it’s called Sims Park for a reason.
Who Was Lee Sims?
Lee Sims was part of The Hope Initiative, an organization that came to Douglas in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene to support rebuilding efforts—and helped inspire local leaders to form Hope for Coffee to address ongoing needs in our community.
Those who spoke about Lee described him as someone who was deeply moved by what he saw here—someone who felt called to be part of what God was doing in Coffee County. His wife, Sherry Sims, shared how disaster relief wasn’t just something Lee did—it was where he thrived, and missions were his heart.
The Day That Changed Everything
On November 2, 2024, during the early planning stages of the recovery effort, Lee was in Douglas meeting with citizens and local officials. When the meeting ended, he headed home.
About an hour from Douglas, Lee was tragically involved in an auto accident that claimed his life.
Sherry shared that Lee called her after the meeting—excited, full of vision, “on top of the world,” ready to tell her everything. Then, in a moment, everything changed.
Why Name It Sims Park?
Because Lee didn’t just visit Douglas—he invested his heart here.
At the groundbreaking, City Manager Charlie Davis told Lee’s family that Lee “gave his life for Douglas and Coffee County,” thanking them for sharing him with this community and acknowledging the cost of that sacrifice.
Pastor Stephen Boyken of The Hope Initiative also spoke to the sense of calling that brought their team here—when many eyes were on other regions after Helene, they believed God was calling them to Coffee County, and Lee felt that call too.
So when the question came—What do we name this space?—the answer wasn’t about recognition, it was about remembrance.
Sims Park is named to honor a man who showed up when he didn’t have to—and loved a community he hadn’t even known for long.
The Land, The Moment, and the “God Knew Better” Story
There’s another layer to this story that feels like God’s signature all over it.
Community advocate and Hope For Coffee board member, JoAnne Lewis, shared that the Alunza Street property was originally a small city park that didn’t get much use—mostly just a swing set. At one point, she even suggested selling it and using the funds to improve other parks, but the city chose to hold onto it.
Later, when the need for land for housing became urgent, she said a “light went off,” and she drove straight to that property and knew: “This is it.”
What looked like an underused space became a place of future stability.
And it now carries Lee’s name.
Carrying His Legacy Forward
Lee’s passing was a devastating blow to The Hope Initiative—but instead of letting it derail the work, it became fuel. His passion and faithfulness pushed the team to pour even more into Douglas and Coffee County.
That’s what Sims Park represents:
the cost of compassion
the power of unity
the reality that hope sometimes comes through messy miracles
and the decision to keep building anyway
Thank You, Lee
To Sherry Sims and the Sims family: thank you for sharing Lee with Coffee County, even for a short time.
And to our community: may we build the kind of recovery that honors sacrifices like his—not just with a name on a sign, but with families restored and neighbors cared for, year after year.
That’s why it’s called Sims Park.
