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.

Published

1 year ago

October 2, 2024

Oakland Post

Larry Sims was loving family man, avid sportsfan and longtime member of Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church. Courtesy photo.

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.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

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4 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.