Pafford Simms, Sr.

Pafford "Pat" Simms, 89, passed away Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC. He was born October 14, 1922 in Jacksonville, Florida to John Rowe Simms and Sarah Elizabeth Tomlinson Simms. "Pat" attended Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, FL. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II, was injured while on duty, and received a medical discharge. He was married to Juanita Frankie Willard in Atlanta, Georgia in 1941, for 22 years. They had three children, Diane, Pafford Jr., and Janine. He married Bernice McLeod Simms in 1964. Bernice passed away on May 12, 2011. "Pat" took courses at Georgia Evening College in Atlanta and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. He took ministerial courses at Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC at the age of 55. Much of his life was spent in sales work and later insurance, then serving God ministering to others. Mr. Simms is survived by his three children, Diane Barrett (Bruce), Janine Phillips (Sid), and Pafford J. Simms, Jr. (Diana); step grandchildren, David Shannon Johnston and Jeffrey Keith Johnston, Jr., who he and Bernice raised; grandchildren, Kimberlee Diane Smallwood, Suzanne Lynnette Brown, Martha Phillips Winter, Christine Phillips Walker, Sarah Phillips Smith, Elizabeth Simms Neal, and Victoria Simms; and 13 great-grandchildren. In addition to his loving wife Bernice, he is predeceased by his brother, Benjamin Harris Simms; and three sisters, Lola Beatrice Rigdon, Bernace Amanda Carter, and Martha Lee Daniel. The family will receive friends 12:00-1:00 PM Saturday, October 29, 2011, at Floyd's Boiling Springs Chapel. Funeral services will follow, in the Chapel, conducted by Pastor David Duncan, and Pafford's nephew, the Rev. William Anthony of Jacksonville, FL. Burial will be in Good Shepherd Memorial Park, Spartanburg, SC. Memorials may be made to Liberty Baptist Church, 980 Bishop Road, Inman, SC 29349. The family is at their respective homes. Floyd's Boiling Springs Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Pafford James "Pat" Simms, Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store.