Henry Mercer Simmons

AIKEN, SC – HENRY MERCER SIMMONS, 88, beloved husband of Wilma Jean Nave Simmons, died Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers.

A native of Lakeland, FL, Mr. Simmons was the son of the late Theo and Virginia Agnes Sellers Simmons. He was a Pearl Harbor Veteran, serving in the Army Air Force at Hickman Field during World War II. He played football for the Army Air Force and also played on Milligan College’s first football team. He was a former Boy Scout field executive. He earned a B.S. Degree from Milligan College in Johnson City, TN, and a Masters Degree from Peabody University in Nashville. Early in his career, he was a high school teacher and coach. He retired after a long career as an environmentalist with the State of Virginia. He had lived in Aiken for two years and was a member of Town Creek Baptist Church. 

Survivors, in addition to his beloved wife, include two daughters; Rebecca and husband Bill Magee, Aiken, SC and Kathryn and husband Jim Mercer, Vancouver, WA, a son, Rev. Mike and wife, Beverly Simmons, Midlothian, TX, four grandchildren; Andrew Todd Folden, Martha Elizabeth Simmons, Marcus Bailey Simmons and Marybeth Annette Simmons, a great-grandson, Oliver Folden, a sister, Pearl Daniels, Lake City, TN, and a brother, Max R. Simmons, Tequesta, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters; Hazel Temple, Alice Webb, Margaret Gosnell, Laura Dunbar, two brothers, Jim and Bus Simmons and a grandson, Stanford Scott Fuller. 

Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2:00 PM at Town Creek Baptist Church with The Rev.’s Clint Smith, Mike Simmons and Jeff Smith officiating. Interment will be in Happy Valley Cemetery, Johnson City, TN. 

Honorary Pallbearers will be Jeff Metz, Paul Cross, Ron Toole, Gene Beck, Robert Nave, Johnny Wright, Mark Mossburg, Jack Nichols and Bill Lynn.

 The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 PM Saturday at Shellhouse – Rivers Funeral Home, 715 East Pine Log Rd., Aiken, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Town Creek Baptist Church Building Fund, 250 Town Creek Rd., Aiken, SC 29803 or to a favorite charity. 

Family and friends are invited to attend the Interment Service Monday November 25, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, where Dr. Michael Simmons, senior pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church will officiate 

SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC