Earnest Lee was the fourth child born of seven children to his parents, the late Mr. Clifton "aka Sonny" Sims and Mrs. Bessie Singleton Sims on April 24, 1957 in Sunflower County, Indianola, Mississippi.  He was given the nickname "Bum Jelly" by his neighbor, the late Mr. Otis Brown, Sr. from the Gray Street community.

Bum Jelly confessed a hope in Christ at an early age and was baptized and united with the Mount Beulah Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Reverend E. E. Evans.  He worked diligently with the Men's Ministry and the Men's Sunday School Class #11.  In years later, Sunday School classes number 11 and 12 were combined and there he remained faithfully.  For over 20 years, Bum Jelly appeared on the Annual Men's Day program in some capacity.  This will be the first Men's Day we won't hear a dynamic presentation from him.

Earnest attended the public schools of Sunflower County, Indianola, Mississippi.  He graduated from Gentry High School in May of 1975.  He matriculated to Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi.  There he received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master's degree in Special Education.  He continued his studies at the University of Mississippi where he received an Administration and Supervision degree.  He continued his quest for knowledge and received a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science Management degrees from Strayer University.

Earnest worked in the following school districts:  Holmes County, Bolivar County and Oxford Mississippi.  He also worked as a special education teacher at the former Lake Providence High School now known as General Trass High School in Tallulah, Louisiana.

On June 28, 2014, he was united in holy matrimony to Ms. Barbara Howard.  Bum Jelly relocated to Tallulah, Louisiana and united with the Central Baptist #1 Missionary Baptist Church in Lake Providence, Louisiana.  There he was crowned a deacon.  He served faithfully until his demise on July 5, 2019.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandparents, Simmie and Turlieu "aka Miss Mary" Singleton and Walter and Ruby Birdsong Sims.

Bum Jelly leaves to cherish his loving memory; his devoted wife of five years, Mrs. Barbara Howard Sims; one son, Kendrick Howard of Germany; seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter; two brothers, Clifton Sims of Indianola, Mississippi and Donald Ray(Barbara Ricks) Sims of Greenville, Mississippi; four sisters, Bettye Ann Sims Hawkins, Evaline S. (David) Drain, Sharron S. (Melvin) Norris and Deborah S. (Burnice) Howard , all of Indianola, Mississippi; two uncles, Eddie Gene Sims of San Diego, California and George Lusbure, Jr. of Crystal Spring, mississippi; four aunts, Willie B. Sims Morgan and Betty J. Grayson, both of Belzoni, Mississippi, Mary L. Palmer of Mesa, Arizona and Era J. Mack Sims of Greenville, Mississippi, a host of nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces, three sister-in-law, Thelma(Arthur) Jones, Lillie Craig and Cora Washington all of Rayville, Louisiana; other relatives and friends.  He also leaves to cherish his memories, Central Baptist #1 Missionary Baptist Church family and the members of the historic Mount Beulah Missionary Baptist Church.