Simone Denise (Nee Cornish) Sewell

In the early morning hours of Monday August 5, 2019 earth lost an angel, and Heaven gained a new one, when God called Simone Denise Sewell (nee Cornish) home. Simone was born in Wilmington, Delaware on June 6, 1956 to the late Reginald Sims and Mary Grace Cornish.

Simone attended Wilmington public schools, graduating from Howard High. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Delaware where she was a charter member of the Lambda Gamma chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Ever the stylish fashion plate, her sorors -gave her the line name “Saks Sister” as in Saks Fifth Avenue. She was also a debutante in 1974 for the Zeta Omega Chapter where she met some life-long friends.

Simone began her long career in geriatric care working for the State of Delaware and later for several private long-term care facilities. Even during her illness, she continued to work and served as the care-giver for her father and mother.

Simone was a devoted daughter and loving partner, but the role she cherished most was as mother to Jamelle and Marcus. Whether it was cooking their favorite meals - and boy could she cook -attending dance recitals with Melle, or sports events with Marcus, she was always there for them. Even at the end, she was a “Mom” and shielded her babies from watching her take her last breath. Simone was a joyful person with an infectious laugh, and in the outpouring of condolences from all around the country, the familiar refrain from those who knew and loved her was, “She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside.”

Simone was preceded in death by her father, Reginald Sims and her brothers Reginald Sims, Jr. and Ellsworth (Joe) Cornish. She leaves to mourn and cherish her memory her mother, Mary Grace Cornish; her children Jamelle Singleton and Marcus Sewell; her step-daughter Tswana Sewell; her sister Bernadette Sims; her fiancé Michael Miller; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins who all loved her dearly.

Simone was especially fond of her granddaughter, London Simone Singleton and her last words in the hospital were to her after London said, “I love you GiGi”, Simone said, “I love you baby.”

“You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life? The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.”

Kahlil Gibran

A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday August 11, 2019.The AKA service will take place at 2:45 pm. Memorial Service at 3:00 pm, Ezion Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, 800 N. Walnut Street Wilmington, DE 19801.