Barbara Manuel

Barbara Elaine Manuel was born on July 5, 1942, in Jersey City, New Jersey and was called home on September 22, 2025. Her parents were the late Emslie Edward Philip Sims and Maggie Bell Harris Sims. Together they had Miriam A. Sims Terry (Eugene), Edward Sims Jr. (Deanna), Nathanial S. Sims (Elizabeth "Betty"), Richard Sims (Mary), Eloise M. Sims Jackson (Charles), Barbara E. Sims Manuel (Charles), Warren “Ajamu” Sims, Beverly Sims Moody and Raymond P. Sims. Barbara’s half-siblings were James Sims (Ruby), Johnsie Mae Sims Wilkes (James), Florence Sims Daniels Antoine (Oswald and Louis), all of whom preceded Barbara in death.

In 1957, Barbara graduated grade school at Jersey Public Schools #37 and later from Lincoln High School. She worked in New York for a time and then ventured to California, where she lived with her sister Florence and her family for a few years and worked for Aetna Insurance Company. She also worked for the Deputy Sheriff Department.

In those early days she met lifelong friends Naomi, Julie, Marina, Anita, Diane, Joyce, Cindy, Louisa and many others, as well as her husband of three years, Charles E. “Chuck” Manuel. Barbara became a mom to Chuck's son Sean and remained close to the Manuel family. She was especially fond of her mother-in-law Florine Manuel. Along the way, Barbara gained friends such as Betty, Judy and Debbie.

Barbara received professional certifications from Orange Coast Community College, California and Orange County Social Services. She served as a social worker for over two decades. In a story written about her in a social service agency newsletter, she was recognized for the many ways in which she supported and helped people. Barbara helped social services agencies like CalWorks/Welfare to Work and Children Services. She participated in the “Adopt a Social Worker Program” and assisted clients with emergency needs such as collecting and distributing truckloads of furniture and providing clothes and food. She helped clients remove obstacles to employment by finding jobs, arranging for people to have tattoos removed and providing work attire. Her clients, co-workers and agencies were appreciative of her support, resourcefulness and dedication.

Barbara lived a full and exciting life with countless friends and family members of all different backgrounds and ages. She was feisty, opinionated and headstrong with a sense of humor. Barbara consistently lived her Christian and charitable values. She was generous and involved in many activities including raising money for Habitat for Humanity and traveling several times to Mexico to help construct homes.

Some highlights of Barbara’s love of travel were the Holy Land, Egypt, Cuba, Hawaii, the Caribbean and gospel cruises. She collected beautiful silver bracelets from her travels which she wore for decades. She also loved to walk. Although she was sickly as a child and remained a finicky eater (except for chicken wings) throughout her life, she outlived all of her siblings.

Barbara came from a very Afrocentric family and could be seen wearing her African attire on many occasions and advocating for civil rights. Recently, the Leisure World newspaper wrote an article about her experience traveling to the historic March on Washington to see Martin Luther King Jr. Her brother, Dr. Edward Sims Jr., an ordained minister and Ph.D., wrote many books on rituals for the celebrating and strengthening of the Black family and Barbara embraced those principles fully. As a sister, aunt and mom, Barbara was always there for family. Who can forget her homemade birthday cards, See’s lollipops and babies’ Bibles? Whether it was celebrating milestones, providing driving lessons, loaning her car, helping to find employment, mentoring, loaning money or time, bringing treats or going to theme parks and other adventures, she was thoughtful and helpful.

Barbara leaves her son Sean Manuel, daughter-in-law Angela and grandson Jeremiah, along with a whole host of “favorite” nieces and nephews, godchildren, family and friends who each carry a part of her legacy in their hearts.

PRAYER:

Lord of life, in whom we live, move and have our being, receive our sincere thanks for the life and memory of our Barbara Manuel, who, we believe, has found favor in thy sight while attempting to live thy teachings and precepts. Amen.

— Dr. Edward Sims Jr., Celebration of Passing Handbook