Randy David Sims (1974)

Mike was my best friend. We grew up together, attended classes together, played music together, and enjoyed our teenage years together. I spent many nights at his familys home and enjoyed many meals with Mike and his family.  He was 3 days older than me and we were both born in West Virginia. I remember that we once had a group called The Rock Wall which included Mike on Bass Guitar, myself on Electric Guitar and vocals, Scottt Morris on Drums and Scott's younger brother Ritchie on Electric Guitar. We once bravely entered Junior Division of the East Coast Battle of The Bands in Waynesboro, Virginia and we won First Place. We also entered a talent show at Greenwood Elementary School in Greenwood and were joined by Danny Via on Electric Guitar and again won First Place. Mike loved music very much. I would often walk about a mile from my home to his carrying my Guitar and Amp so that we could practice, and then I'd walk back. Mike was always energetic and always happy and had a smile. His life was tragically shortened as a result of a gunshot from an armed robbery as he was working on his day off. Mike was loved by many and is greatly missed.