Robert Sims Calhoun

Robert Sims Calhoun, 83, peacefully went home to be with his Lord on Monday, December 14, 2020, at his residence in Mansfield. Sims was born July 7, 1937, to Marshall and Wilma Sims Calhoun in Mansfield, LA. He attended Mansfield High School and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.

A lifelong resident of Mansfield, Sims had a variety of business interests and accomplishments. Whether he was working with his parents early on in the Auction Barn, working at the Wag-A-Bag with his brother James, or later in his local grocery store The Circle In, he could always be found smiling and enjoying people. He introduced both the first Icee machine and the first early automated Robo Car Wash to Mansfield. Sims raised cattle, built homes with Calhoun Builders, and later became a respected financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services. In retirement, he could often be found enjoying the outdoors, fishing, tending his garden, cleaning off a fence row, cutting trees, or his favorite–picking up sticks to burn. There wasn’t a day that he didn’t check on his mother, Honey. Sims struggled with Parkinson’s Disease for the last years of his life but will always be remembered by his gentle and generous spirit, corny jokes, quick wit, and welcoming demeanor.

His love for his family was only surpassed by his love for God, which he openly shared with everyone he met. Sims was a Deacon in the First Baptist Church of Mansfield followed by Brookwood Baptist Church of Shreveport. He traveled with Brookwood to Mexico on multiple mission trips to share Jesus abroad. Sims joined the Gideon’s when he was in his twenties and was passionate about sharing Jesus through their ministry. He was never without Gideon Bibles to share with someone! He lived his life devoted to sharing Christ and didn’t want anyone who crossed his path to miss out on the message of God’s love and salvation. We know he is rejoicing with family, his many friends, and all those he shared Christ with that went before him in the presence of his Savior. If you knew him as Sims, Simmie, Dad, Papa, Mr. C, or even Lightning from the CB days, we know you join with us in honoring his life and memory, rejoicing in his being healthy and whole again, and the assurance that he is with his Lord and Savior.

He was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife of over 57 years Sandra Laffitte Calhoun; daughters Colleen Calhoun Fuller and her husband Larry Weaver and Catherine Calhoun and her husband Marcus Hodge. He is also survived by his granddaughter Katie Fuller.

A private family service has already been held. Due to the number of friends and additional family who have requested a time to honor his life and memory, the family will be available on Sunday, December 20th between 1:00 – 3:00 PM at his residence to receive visitors. Understanding that many of you have memories and stories of Sims that you would like to share, we request you record them prior to arrival so we can enjoy reading them at a later time. We also request your patience as we try to keep this environment safe with physical distancing and other precautions. If you are sick, recovering, uncomfortable or unable to attend and wish to share something with the family, you can add a memory on Centuries Memorial Funeral Home web page or contact Brookwood Baptist Church for contact information.

The family would like to thank his caregivers, Stephanie Anderson, Lorraine Williams, Crystal Little, and Princess Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 1403, Mansfield, LA. 71052 or through www.gideons.org.