Bay Area
Larry Sims, 81
Larry Sims passed away on Thursday, Aug. 29 surrounded by his loved ones in Oakland, California. He was 81. Affectionatey know as ‘Papa,’ Larry was born on Dec. 8, 1942, in DeWitt, Arkansas to Arthur “Buddy” Sims and Para Lee McCoy. He moved to California with his family in 1951. Larry graduated from Oakland High School, in 1961, marrying his high school sweetheart, Joyce Leonard, in 1962. They raised two children, Darnell, and Deborah.

Special to The Post
Larry Sims passed away on Thursday, Aug. 29 surrounded by his loved ones in Oakland, California. He was 81
Affectionatey know as ‘Papa,’ Larry was born on Dec. 8, 1942, in DeWitt, Arkansas to Arthur “Buddy” Sims and Para Lee McCoy. He moved to California with his family in 1951. Larry graduated from Oakland High School, in 1961, marrying his high school sweetheart, Joyce Leonard, in 1962. They raised two children, Darnell, and Deborah.
Larry enjoyed family camping trips to Yosemite. He also enjoyed all types of sporting events and loved all the Bay Area teams. An avid Oakland Raider fan, he held season tickets for years and would attend games with family and friends.
Larry attended the Oakland A’s World Series Games from 1972 through 1974. Over the years, Larry became a diehard 49er fan and had no problem wearing his 49er gear while attending a Raiders game in L.A.
He was also passionate about airplanes. Larry took flying lessons and received his private pilot license. He also enjoyed going to see the Blue Angels every time they came to town.
After his divorce, Larry met Leona Davis. They dated, fell in love, and married in 1987. Through this union, Larry gained a daughter, Sandra, aka Sadaqa, from Leona’s previous marriage.
Later, as Larry and Leona became empty nesters, they embarked on parenthood once more by raising their grandson, Christopher. Larry joined the Frito-Lay organization and worked there until his retirement. He received the company’s top award, The Ring of Honor, along with numerous other awards.
During his free time, Larry loved entertaining at his home, especially playing card games, such as bid whist. He enjoyed Leona’s singing and playing. Larry remained devoted to Leona until her passing in January 2013. He was heartbroken.
Since 1979, Larry was a faithful member of Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church. Larry was devoted to his Bible studies. He would read scripture and give advice to all who needed it. Larry volunteered with the Vacation Bible Camp and drove the church van to the retreat.
Also, he was a member of the Forever Young Group. Larry volunteered for several positions in the church over the years, but his true passion was the sound room. He joined the sound room in the 1980s and managed the sound room from 2005 until 2023. Larry left an impression on everyone he met. He was fun-loving, caring, funny, compassionate, friendly, and loved his family.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Susan; his brothers, Wilbert, Sylvester, and Ronnie; and his spouse, Leona. He leaves behind: his son, Darnell (Sheila), his daughters, Deborah, and Sandra and his grandson/son, Christopher; his grandchildren; Brandon, Joyce, McKinsey, Anthony, Racheal, Jai‘Lynn, Angelnay, Dae’Len, and Braylon; his great-grandchildren; Jai, Jayce, Jaxon, Jay’el and Sincere. In addition, he leaves to mourn his sister, Renee Muckeroy, his brother, Leslie “Micky” Sims, his former wife and close friend, Joyce Sims, a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, and his Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church community.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland.
A viewing will be held on Sept. 19 from 5-6 p.m. at Fouche Hudson Funeral Home, 3665 Telegraph Ave., Oakland.
If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to either LABC Scholarship Fund or LABC Hunger Task Force.
Bay Area
Gov. Newsom Looks Back at 2024 Milestones; Presents Vision for 2025
Newsom opened by recounting his announcement atop the Golden Gate Bridge of $150.4 billion in record-breaking visitor spending. He reflected on signing a bill with singer Demi Lovato to protect young content creators from financial exploitation. He celebrated the Olympic flag transfer ceremony, signifying California’s preparation for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

By Joe W. Bowers, California Black Media
In a recent video address, Gov. Gavin Newsom shared key moments that shaped California in 2024. He emphasized achievements in tourism, technology, public safety, and environmental resilience while underscoring the state’s ability to tackle challenges head-on.
Newsom opened by recounting his announcement atop the Golden Gate Bridge of $150.4 billion in record-breaking visitor spending. He reflected on signing a bill with singer Demi Lovato to protect young content creators from financial exploitation. He celebrated the Olympic flag transfer ceremony, signifying California’s preparation for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Focusing on innovation, Newsom praised NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang for his leadership in advancing generative AI. He showcased the transformation of an abandoned mall into a quantum computing center in L.A. that addresses global challenges.
He also highlighted the ARCHES coalition’s work on green hydrogen, aiming to decarbonize California’s industries.
Newsom emphasized California’s leadership on clean transportation with over 2 million electric vehicles sold and a statewide network of 150,000 public chargers. He spoke about joining Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to celebrate the long-awaited electrification of Caltrain, linking San Francisco to San Jose.
In climate resilience, Newsom spotlighted removing the Klamath Dam, the largest project in U.S. history, restoring salmon migration and tribal lands. He discussed agreements with Italy and Pope Francis to address greenhouse gas emissions and praised the legislature’s action to increase transparency and hold oil companies accountable for gas price spikes.
Turning to health, housing, and education, Newsom outlined progress on Proposition 1 to improve mental health care, legislative efforts to increase housing construction, and the expansion of universal free school meals for all public school students.
Public safety highlights included combating fentanyl trafficking, expanding the California Highway Patrol, and addressing organized retail theft through new legislation.
Newsom also celebrated the state’s balanced budget for the current and upcoming fiscal years. He joked about his detailed budget presentations as his “yearly Super Bowl,” highlighting the importance he places on fiscal responsibility.
The Governor closed by reflecting on 2024 as a year defined by resilience and optimism, crediting California’s ability to navigate polarization and overcome challenges. He emphasized the importance of preserving California’s values of innovation and inclusiveness while continuing to invest in communities, infrastructure, and equity as the state looks ahead to 2025.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee Reflects on Her Career as She Bids Farewell to Congress
“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
Outgoing Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) expressed deep gratitude to her constituents and marked the end of her 26-year career in public service.
Lee, who is succeeded by Lateefah Simon, a civil rights and racial justice activist, praised people in her community for their support. She also highlighted her dedication to promoting peace, justice, and equity.
“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.
Throughout her tenure, Lee earned a reputation as a principled lawmaker known for taking bold and sometimes unpopular stances. One of her defining moments came in 2001 when she was the sole member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for the Use of Military Force in response to the September 11 attacks. This decision led to death threats but ultimately cemented her legacy of courage.
Lee’s leadership extended beyond her district, where she fought for social justice, the rights of low-income communities, and global health initiatives. She was a key figure in pushing for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She was a vocal critic of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion services.
The Congresswoman also faced significant challenges in her career, including a failed Senate bid in 2024. Yet, Lee’s efforts have paved the way for more excellent representation, with more Black women now elected to Congress. She worked closely with organizations like Representation Matters to encourage more women of color to run for office.
Lee says she looks to the future, confident that the next generation of leaders will continue her unfinished work, particularly on issues like military force and reproductive rights.
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