Ma Zim was ‘a pillar of strength’

The late Rachel Simmery affectionately known as Ma Zim has been called a pillar of strength for her community and family.

Ma Zim died on Monday morning December 2 of natural causes. Three months ago doctors told the family, she was experiencing heart failure, her granddaughter, Samantha Fortune said.

Earlier this year, on Sunday April 14, Ma Zim’s family and friends gathered at Baron Estate, Ottery, to celebrate her 100th birthday (‘Ma Zim turns 100’, Plainsman April 17).

Ma Zim was formerly a housekeeper in Parow for three years where she also lived with her two children, Rachel Barnabas, 64, and David Charles, 68.

She worked at the City of Cape Town’s council in Lentegeur, at the I&J shop in Salt River and at Cape Town City parks and forest in the Lentegeur department in the 80s. She retired at 65.

She was fond of cooking for her family and made a custard dessert every Wednesday.

“She was a lovable person in the community, everyone loved her. It didn’t matter if you were a gangster she would treat you just the same. She would often impart scripture to people as she loved the Lord. She always put God first in everything,” she said.

She was a pillar of strength in our family and community, said Samantha.

Ma Zim’s golden rule is to put God first in everything that one does, to honour your parents and to always have respect, she said.

She is survived by 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren.