Pass sheet name to Sub

I have a Sub to sort sheets by due date (D:D)

As each sheet is selected the sheetcode activate calls the sort routine.
This works

Sub Sdate(wsName As String)
Dim ws1 As Worksheet
Set ws1 = Sheets(wsName)
Range("A3:J250").Select
Sheets("April").Sort.SortFields.Clear
Sheets("April").Sort.SortFields.Add Key:=Range("D3:D250"), _
        SortOn:=xlSortOnValues, Order:=xlAscending, DataOption:=xlSortNormal
        With Sheets("April").Sort
           .SetRange Range("A3:J250")
           .Header = xlGuess
           .MatchCase = False
           .Orientation = xlTopToBottom
           .SortMethod = xlPinYin
           .Apply
       End With
End Sub

if manually plug in the sheet name

This doesn't

Sub Sdate(wsName As String)
Dim ws1 As Worksheet
Set ws1 = Sheets(wsName)
Range("A3:J250").Select
Sheets(ws1).Sort.SortFields.Clear
Sheets(ws1).Sort.SortFields.Add Key:=Range("D3:D250"), _
        SortOn:=xlSortOnValues, Order:=xlAscending, DataOption:=xlSortNormal
        With Sheets(ws1).Sort
           .SetRange Range("A3:J250")
           .Header = xlGuess
           .MatchCase = False
           .Orientation = xlTopToBottom
           .SortMethod = xlPinYin
           .Apply
       End With

End Sub

Called with

Call Sdate("April")

The immediate window does show ws1 = "April"

Also how do you turn off the highlight after the range selection?

Please point out my ignorance.
thanks

Thanks Norie - I do feel dumb.