Louisa Keyes

Louisa (Burton) Sims-Keyes, was born long ago in Louisville, Arkansas. She was the middle daughter of 3 girls (Odessa and Callie Bee), Born to the late Mary Gibson (Burton)-Britton, and Henry Sims. She was the eldest of her siblings, Florida Sims-Harris, (Jimmie), Otis Sims (Bell), and Robert Sims (all siblings deceased). Her mother, Mary, lived to be just 4 moths short of 103 years of age. At Louisa’s 84th birthday celebration, the family’s prayer was for her long life as well, and she was blessed to live approximately 101.5 years long – Praise the Lord!          “Lou” as childhood and family friends affectionately called her, grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she attended school.  She professed Christ at a young age, which prompted her decision to join the Baptist Church.  She also enjoyed singing in a gospel trio.  Louisa had good times with her best friends, Elsie (Wilson) Moore, last known to reside in Menifee, CA; and Leona (Hester) Isom; and Charlotte Black, of Tulsa, Oklahoma (both deceased). Louisa married Roy Williamson (deceased), and they bravely migrated to Richmond, California, during the shipyard era weathering, World War II. They both united with the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Richmond, in the year 1944 where she has remained a faithful member for more than 75 years!! When she was granted the gift of her only daughter Katheryn (Mary) Louise in 1952, their first outing (at 6 weeks old) was to Bethlehem!          Louisa later married Leon Keyes (deceased), in 1968, (who lovingly gave her the name “Dear” - which stuck!), and together they served on the usher board until his death in 1980.  Louisa hand-made corsages and boutonnieres for Bethlehem Usher’s Annual Day for many years.       Louisa worked more than 30 years, for the historical Manning’s Cafeteria, in Oakland, CA.  Manning’s was frequented by the rich and famous, and she was overjoyed when the late president John F. Kennedy, chose to pass by her workplace and wave, accompanied by his motor brigade. After retiring from Manning’s, Louisa continued to work for several canneries (Heinz, Hunt’s, and Del Monte), seasonally.  She also worked for the U.C. Berkeley (Jewish) sorority house as a cook, and finally as a concession stand manager at Golden Gate Field’s race-track until their closing.         “Dear” was a sharp businesswoman who made many sacrifices to achieve her goals.   As a single parent in 1964, she purchased her first house, despite the many obstacles of social and racial prejudice she faced as a single woman of color. Through the years she purchased additional properties, one of which she dedicated as a ministry lifestyle center home to help individuals who doctors could not help. Her love, concern and generosity have been instrumental in saving lives by the education, prevention, combating, reversal and eradicating of disease through God’s natural rational remedies where pharmaceutical medications and allopathic methods were not effective.         

For approximately the past 5 years, as the effects of aging began to take a toll on her life, Dear was no longer safe living alone.  She had to relocate to Southern California to live with her family for monitored care, but oh, how she missed her Bethlehem church family.        Dear made so many friends of her daughter’s and grand-daughter’s/son’s friends, and considered them family members. She frequently attended church, weddings, family gatherings; great-grand’s sport events, parties and out-goings with them. Among her fondest memories was her bus trip (she would not fly) across the United States with her daughter to see New York, and Washington, D.C,. for the first time during the Obama Administration, AND her 100th birthday party celebration that she talked about for no less than 6-months daily!. While she loved being as active as she could be with her beloved offspring, and loved attending the Mt. Rubidoux Seventh-Day Adventist church with her daughter, grand and great-grand-children, she did not fail to claim Bethlehem, her pastor and her church family as her own, and as her home.  Louisa will always be loved, appreciated, and honored for the many ways through whish she blessed her family and others.  While we mourn her loss, we celebrate her life.  Dear will ever be cherished, and will remain in our hearts as she is sorely missed.  We are grateful to God for her long life granted to her which was a comfort to her family, friends, and loved-ones.

Mother Louisa Keyes, our precious Dear, closed her eyes for the final time to depart this earth on April 7, 2021, approximately 6:30 AM with her daughter by her side, and with her presence in the heart of her grand and great-grand-children, along with all those who knew and loved her.  She leaves to carry on in Jesus’ name, until He parts the sky accompanied by the hosts of heaven, when the dead in Christ shall rise first, and those of us who remain will be caught up to meet Him in the air (from 1Thessalonians 4:16-17): her only daughter, Mary(Katheryn)Louise Matthews; 3 granddaughters- KaTryna Louisa Moore-Nate’ (Benjamin{B.J}). Terri Elynn Wakefield-Rodriguez (Kenrick); Angela Wakefield-Watkins (Christopher{Chris}). Great grand-sons- Benjamin(Drew) Nate’, Branden Nate’, and Daniel Nate’; Khairi Cameron, and Joshua Simms; Christian Watkins and Samuel Watkins.  Great granddaughters- Brylin Buford; Makayla Cameron; and Katherine (Kati) Nate’. Nieces- Nicosia Ramsey(Mickey); Mary Keyes; Nephew- Willard Keyes (Ann); Cousins- Ann Pree-Levy(Texas) and Azalee (Arkansas); Sister-in-Law- Bell Harris ( Richmond); Honorary daughters-(Marian) Yvonne Matthews Simms; Jacquelyn Matthews-Mackey (Elbert); Honorary sons- Lenard Matthews(Dianne); Ray Ousborne; Jimmy Stuart (Pam); and a host of relatives, loved ones, friends and acquaintances.

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