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Joe Massengale posted a condolence
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Coach Simmons was a great CHRISTIAN! Heaven is larger because of his wittiness! My wife Shirley and son Tim (the MIT) and I worked at Whittwell High School with Coach! It was a blessing in knowing Coach!
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Darren McCoy posted a condolence
Monday, February 20, 2023
When my grandmother Helen died several years ago, I had been requested to lead singing at her funeral. I did not know until the day of the funeral that she had picked out a hymn I did not know, one entitled "Will There Be Any Stars?" (as in, "will there be any stars in my crown?"). Al came to the rescue and taught it to me in the chapel of the funeral home shortly before the service. When I think of that day, I think of that song, and I think of good men like Al who help others in time of need.
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Pam Mooneyham posted a condolence
Sunday, February 19, 2023
I always looked upon Al and what he did in his life in comparison to Jesus. He was a true servant who always worked for people to make a better life and day for them along his journey here on earth! He will be missed! Pam Mooneyham
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Claire lit a candle
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
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He caught me cheating and still let me pass the test. Bought my first car from him, he was a really good teacher.
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Brad Evans (Fish) posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
I first met Al when he became my roommate at Freed Hardeman University in 1973. Al was a friendly guy and fit right in with our friends in Paul Gray Hall. We had a close knit group and it was rare to see us without at least one of the others.
Al was a people person who never met a stranger and just loved people. We engaged in the typical college hijinks and maybe some not so typical. Al was very loyal to his friends and he had many during our college days. I dropped out after my sophomore year and didn't see Al as much after that. Over the years we drifted apart, separated by distanced and our different paths. We reconnected at the funeral visitation for our common dear friend, Kerry Couch, in 2021. As it is with many college friends, it was an as if we'd never been apart. We rehashed some fond memories from college days with Al and Joy. Another of our FHU friends, Doug Couch, put together a reunion lunch in Murfreesboro a couple of months later that some of us were able to attend. Al, Doug, Ron Harper and I were there at Demos. We all shared a good time together. As we were leaving, Al and I met in the parking lot and spent a bit of time doing some more catching up. It was our plan to make that a regular event but there was only one more that I recall, at least that I was able to attend, in Franklin, Tn. but Al had a conflict and was unable to make it. Doug tried to put together one more get together but it never came about, or at least I missed it.
On January 17th this year I got a text from Doug saying that Al was seriously ill with liver cancer and that He, Ron, and Jim Craft were planning to go to Dunlap to see him and I planned to join them. I got another text from Doug on Jan. 28 saying Al was in hospice care and the plan was to go see him on Feb. 4th. I was unable to go on the 4th, so my wife Gail and I decided to go on Feb. 3rd.
This was my last time to see Al, and brings me to my fondest memory of him. While we shared many good times, and a few sad ones, many of the details of those are long forgotten, this one will be with me for the rest of my life. We really didn't know what to expect when we arrived since Al was under hospice care. What we found was the same happy good friend from 50 years before when we first met. He was upbeat and seemed to be feeling well, considering the stage of his illness. There was no sadness, just true happiness to see each other again. The man who had spent his life working with and molding children and young people and being a leader in his church was the same guy from college. We spent about two hours talking with Al and Joy and had a great time. When we got ready to leave, Al asked if we couldn't stay for dinner. Regrettably, we could not, but it was the same Al, always wanting to extend a visit with his friends. He had no fear of death, for he knew his final destination...heaven, with God and friends and family who had gone before. As I leaned over him in his recliner to tell him goodbye, I told him I prayed for him every day. His response was, "Well,I sure need them!" Not a sad response, just an honest one. And then he proceeded to thank me for all the things I had done for him, in college and for giving him a summer job at Lowes, where I was a warehouse manager, after he was married and still in school. Humble, thankful, and a good friend to the end. That last visit has changed my life, and I will never forget that day, or the man of God, my friend, Al Simmons.
God bless Joy, his children Aaron and Leah, and all the other family and friends who will miss him and look forward to seeing him again, in heaven.
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Dale Millsaps posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
from the first day we met when I was in the guard working on the softball field in the swamp, to the day i began coaching and teaching, a friendships , kinship, began. I could write a book of our time at Sequatchie high school. to each of you I was and am truely blessed by Coach Simmons , may I follow in his fight, life, and keeping the faith,
Coach Millsaps
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Jessie Harvey lit a candle
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
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David Ulrey posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
I met Al as a fellow preachers kid at Carolina Bible Camp beginning about 1964 thru the early 70s. In about 1970 he became a fellow dishwasher with Mike and David Ulrey, Paul Kidwell Jr PK, David Bumgardner, and Van Wilson. We became camp celebrities especially after defeating all campers in basketball and the title of dishwasher became a covetetd position. My brother Mike became Al’s proclaimed “hero” and also said so again about twenty five years later in a chance meeting about a construction project at the High school where Al was Athletic Director. Al was a talented athlete at CBC and school and in college too as a fellow student at Freed Hardeman.
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Jamie Kilgore-Holland posted a symbolic gesture
Monday, February 13, 2023
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Leah, I am so sorry for your loss.
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Marcus Moyers posted a condolence
Monday, February 13, 2023
Coach Simmons was my Science teacher at Boyd Buchanan School. He was also my wife’s Biology teacher at Whitwell High School. The last time we saw him he was giving a sermon at Whitwell Church of Christ. Wonderful Christian man and teacher! He will be missed.
Marcus and Kristy Moyers
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Debbie Eidson posted a condolence
Monday, February 13, 2023
First semester at Freed-Hardeman and first chapel on bleachers in old Bader gym Al and I were assigned seats together. We also had some Bible classes together. We competed for best grade and he beat me by a long shot .
When visiting FHC before starting there he and Joy would have my family to their apartment for grilled hamburgers. Yum! Good times!
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Andy Long posted a symbolic gesture
Monday, February 13, 2023
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Teressa Everett posted a condolence
Monday, February 13, 2023
Met Al at Bible Camp at Fall Creek Falls a couple years in a row. So glad to get to meet him as he showed hospitality as an elder of the Lord's church. In Christian Love, Teressa Everett
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Daphyne Condra lit a candle
Sunday, February 12, 2023
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Gomer uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, February 12, 2023
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Al and I went to camp many years together. He loved Christ and kids. Camp will not be the same
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Mary posted a condolence
Sunday, February 12, 2023
I met Al last summer for the first time at church. Al came up introduced himself to me and from then on we had little conversations every time we were around each other. I will rember a kind sweet man who loved to kid around with people like I do. I am very grateful that for a short time he was a special part of my new life. I recognized from the first the loving caring man that Al was and I know he will be missed by many. Joy I will continue to keep you and your family in my prayers.
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Gayle Cookston posted a condolence
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Joy and family my sincere condolences and prayers for you and your beautiful family. Al was definitely a great person and loved by so many in the education field especially the girls and boys that he coached at Whitwell High School. Love and prayers to you all. Love y’all.
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Anonymous purchased flowers
Sunday, February 12, 2023
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Sending love and prayers!
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Stacey Dykes posted a symbolic gesture
Sunday, February 12, 2023
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Thoughts and Prayers for the family, I played for Coach at WHS, 89-90. Such a great individual.
Stacey Dykes, WHS Class of 1990
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Anonymous purchased flowers
Sunday, February 12, 2023
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Condolences from Coach Green and Family.
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The family of Alan Marc Simmons uploaded a photo
Sunday, February 12, 2023
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David Ulrey posted a condolence
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Met Al as a fellow preachers kid at Carolina Bible Camp beginning in about 1963 thru early 70s. In about 1970 he was a fellow dishwasher at camp with Mike and David Ulrey, Paul Kidwell Jr PK, Van Wilson and David Bumgardner. We became camp celebrities especially after defeating all other campers in basketball and made the title of dishwasher a coveted position at CBC. My brother Mike became Al’s proclaimed “hero” during this time and also said so again about 25 years later upon a chance meeting about a construction project at the High school in Dunlap at the time where Al was Athletic Director. Al was a very talented athlete thru the years there and as we attended FHC together also.
DU
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Jamie McClendon-Bryant posted a condolence
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Q: How did you meet Alan?
A: Coach Simmons and family were my neighbors in Powell’s Crossroads for several years. He was one of my high school teachers and an avid sports fan supporting all young athletes and students. I fondly remember taking his kids around our neighborhood at Halloween with my younger sisters. He always had an encouraging word and a smile as big as the sky. He will be missed but his impact will live on.
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