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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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By Michele Lamont

Special to The Post

William (“Bill”) Pierce Coburn, longtime Oakland architect who helped Oakland and Berkeley preserve its architectural heritage, passed away on July 24. He was 80 years old.

Coburn was born on May 10, 1944, in Melrose, Massachusetts, to Frank and Rachel Coburn. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Arts in 1966, and a master’s in architecture from Harvard School of Design in 1971.

In 1978, Coburn opened his own firm in Berkeley and eventually moved to West Oakland. He was passionate about the City of Oakland and found his calling in preserving Oakland’s architectural heritage. He spent many years as a professor of Architecture and Design at UC Berkeley as well as instructing at international universities in India and Hong Kong. Bill mentored many young architects from India, helping them to jump-start careers in the US.

Coburn’s process and design became a rare craft in the industry as he drafted entire home designs by hand without using any digital software. Many of his clients felt the drawings were more a work of art than just a blueprint. Many of his drawings are recorded in the UC Berkeley Architectural Archives.

Bill’s love for his community seeps through every crack in the sidewalk, where he planted flowers to beautify the land. It spans generations, where he worked as an architect to keep the historic beauty of Oakland and Berkeley alive through his dedication to restoration projects.

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Bill was an integral member of the Oakland Heritage Alliance as a subject matter expert on the history of many significant historical buildings and sites.

He was an instrumental contributor to the City of Berkeley by selecting buildings to be moved and placed in the Delaware Street Historic District in West Berkeley.

Recognized by the City of Oakland for his work in the reconstruction of West Oakland after the massive, tragic destruction caused by the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Bill volunteered countless hours of his time and skills as an architect to residents needing to rebuild their homes and their lives. He was a visionary designer contributing to the modern-day Mandela Parkway development, which is now a verdant artery of the community.

Bill’s dedication to community improvement is evident in nearly every Oakland neighborhood. Driving through the city, you will see trees he planted, houses and buildings he designed with his hands, and a community which is a little better than when he found it.

After becoming a newly graduated architect, Bill loaded his VW Minivan with his dog and a sleeping bag setting out on a journey to the West Coast. Little did he know he would find his calling in the City of Oakland where he saw the potential to build a better world.

The love he had for all of the people in his community was omnipresent, sharing all that he had to those who needed it. Bill and his wife, Subhashini (Sue), have led the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland’s Food Ministry program for over 20 years, guiding a team of 50 volunteers to deliver 15,000 meals a year to encampments, host special holiday events for the unhoused, and provide those in need with hot meals at the church each week.

He was a gracious father, husband and a very humble soft-spoken man. William Pierce Coburn passed away at 7:55 P.M. July 26 after a four-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Subhashini, and sons Rahul, Rajiv, and granddaughter Arjuna Rose.

A memorial service for Bill will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m.

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By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

Reginald “Reggie” Webb, a philanthropist and one of the most successful fast-food restaurant owners in Southern California, was laid to rest last month after a long battle with leukemia. He was 76.

According to California State University, San Bernadino​​, Webb owned and operated 16 McDonald’s restaurants, employing over 1,100 workers. His expertise in business and passion for community involvement led to the creation of Webb Family Investments and Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement, which provided support for Black-owned businesses as a means to build and circulate capital within the Black community.

Webb once led the National Black McDonald’s Operator Association, chaired the National Leadership Council, and was the founding chairperson of the Global Operator Leadership Council, representing McDonald’s franchisees worldwide.

Webb was a committed supporter of California State University San Bernardino Black Faculty Staff and Student Association Pioneer Breakfast, a program that raises scholarship funds for Black students, according to CSUSB. He also raised funding for the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches’ annual Martin Luther King breakfast at Cal State San Bernardino.

He received the 365Black Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002 in recognition of achievements of importance that bonded the African American community.

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