Sheryl Sims

Sims was born in Germany, where her father was stationed as an officer in the United States Army.^[1] She spent part of her childhood in Thailand.^[1] Sims is the sixth-great-granddaughter of Andrew Cox, an American patriot.^[2][1] She is also the fourth-great-granddaughter of Calvin Leary, a Louisiana planter, and a woman named Mariah, who was enslaved on his estate, Sunnsyside Plantation.^[3] Sims is a 10th-great-granddaughter of the Irish Quaker colonist Valentine Hollingsworth, who was one of the signatories of William Penn's Great Charter.^[4]

She was presented as a debutante in her youth.^[1] She graduated with a degree in environmental design from the University of Houston.^[1]

Sims has three brothers and a sister. She is divorced and is the mother of an adult daughter, Amber Wihshi, who is a resident of Alexandria, Virginia.

Sims is a professional quilter.^[5][6] In November 2023, she gave a presentation on her work at her exhibit, titled Ancestry Through Art: Discoveries Revealed in Story Quilts Inspired by Family and Faith at Pope–Leighey House on Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria, Virginia.^[7][8] Sims' art focuses on her family history, both enslaver and enslaved.^[7] She was appointed as Commissioner for the Arts in Alexandria from 2022 to 2024.^[1] She serves on the advisory committee for the Virginia Quilt Museum.^[9]

She also works as a legal secretary in Washington, D.C.^[3]

Sims joined the Nelly Custis Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2022.^[2] She was the first person of color to be admitted as a member in her chapter.^[2] In November 2022, she received the Community Service Award and the Women in the Arts Award from her chapter.^[1]