2811643030.jpg &&& Ruth Victoria Barksdale Sims was an actress, model and songwriter, but her first love was always her family. "Our mother was a great gift to us," said her son, John Sims III. "We had the opportunity to tell her how much she had blessed us when we celebrated her 50th birthday when we took her out to dinner. All four of us told her what she had given to us to make us who we are. She cried." Ruth Sims, who held a number of jobs, from bartender to veterinary aide, and appeared in films, plays, commercials and on TV, died Nov. 22 of complications of kidney disease. She was 67 and a longtime homeowner in North Philadelphia. When she needed a kidney transplant, John donated a kidney to her. "He gave his kidney to her and never looked back," said daughter Tywanda. "He felt really blessed to give her the gift of life in that way." Ruth was born in Salem, N.J., to Floyd T. Barksdale and Ravenda Brooks. She was raised by her grandmother, the late Daisy Ruth Barksdale. Although she lived in New Jersey, she was active with the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, in Philadelphia, where she met her husband, John W. Sims Jr. They were married and came to Philadelphia in 1957. They were divorced in 1970 and she later married Charles Douse. Some of her acting credits included speaking parts in "The Street Battler" and the "Law and Order" series on television. She appeared as an extra in "Rocky 5," "Malcolm X," "Blowout," "Taps," "Mannequin," "Trading Places" and "Philadelphia." She appeared in radio and TV commercials and acted with Society Hill Playhouse and Klein YMHA. She also wrote songs for Philadelphia music producers Gamble and Huff. She was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. "Mom was really a hard worker," said her eldest child, Renae. "She did what she had to do to make sure we were all right. Sometimes she worked two jobs to make ends meet. Our task was to be obedient and take care of each other." Over the years, Ruth held jobs with H.J. Heinz, Barringers, the Internal Revenue Service, Cohen & Sons and Botany 500, where she was a key-punch operator. She then went to school to become a veterinary assistant. "She could handle all kinds of animals," said her son, Kevin. Besides her children, she is survived by five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Services: Were Saturday. Burial was in Mt. Peace Cemetery. *