Cecilia "CJ" Sims Cline

Cecilia “CJ” Sims Cline, 67, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away on September 13, 2026, surrounded by love.

She was born on October 6, 1958, in Fort Rucker, Alabama, the daughter of Cecil and Nancy Sims.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Roger Sims, and her sister Deborah Musielak.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Courtney Clarke, and Courtney’s husband, Stephen; her son, Johnny Eldridge, and his wife, Mary; her grandson, Tylor Eldridge; her granddaughter, Emily Eldridge, and Emily’s fiancé, Thomas Long Ith; her sisters—Jennan Borne and her husband David, Rhonda Brumell, Bonnie Briles and her husband Gary, and Marie Sayre and her husband Douglas—as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

She also leaves behind dear friends, her church family, and many others whose lives were made brighter, funnier, and more interesting simply because Cecilia was part of them.

Cecilia was many things to many people, but above all, she was a woman who loved deeply. To her family, she was Momma, Granny, Sister, Aunt, friend, protector, and a presence so large that it is difficult to imagine the world without her in it.

She spent more than 25 years working for USG, but the things that mattered most to Cecilia could never be measured by a résumé. She loved her family fiercely, had a strong and enduring faith in Christ, and possessed a wonderfully mischievous sense of humor. She loved to laugh, tease, tell stories, and occasionally scare the people she loved just for the fun of watching their reactions. Those who knew her well knew that beneath that playful spirit was a deeply loving heart.

Cecilia’s faith became an especially important part of her life. She loved her church family at Chaffee Road Church of Christ and found comfort, purpose, and community there. Her family takes comfort now in the faith that meant so much to her.

Cecilia was laid to rest during a private family burial at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery in Gainesville, Florida, on Thursday, September 24, 2026. She will rest naturally among the trees.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Chaffee Road Church of Christ at a date and time to be announced. Family and friends will gather to remember Cecilia, share stories, laugh, cry, and celebrate the life of a woman who will be profoundly missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks those wishing to honor Cecilia to consider making a donation to Chaffee Road Church of Christ, a place that meant so much to her.

There are people whose absence changes the shape of a family forever. Cecilia was one of those people. She was loved beyond words, and she will be missed beyond measure.

Countryside Funeral Home has been entrusted with the final arrangements.