Michael Simms

Michael Edgar “Big Mike” Simms, (73) of Nokesville, Virginia passed away unexpectedly on October 14, 2022 while on vacation with his wife visiting RV friends in Millersburg, Ohio. He was born to parents Charles and Maudine Simms, on March 6, 1949, in Alexandria, Virginia. He spent his formative years living with Robert and Jenny Godfrey in Nokesville, Virginia, where he attended Brentsville District High School and received his Associates Degree from Northern Virginia Community College. Big Mike found pleasure from working with his hands and providing a variety of craftmanship services to many individuals over the years. He eventually created his own remodeling business until he retired in 2010. However, never one to stay idle and looking for a way to share his gifts, he began working at Greenwich Presbyterian Church as their Facilities Manager until the fall of 2022. On June 28, 1969, he married his high school sweetheart, Linda Clemen, who he met at Brentsville District High School, where he was the Football Captain, and she was the Homecoming Queen. They had two children, their oldest daughter, Wendy, and younger son Robert “Little Mike.” Big Mike and Linda were doubly blessed when Wendy met and married Richard Atkinson and had Big Mike’s only grandchild, Allison. From that moment on, he became known as “Poppy.” The family grew one final time when Little Mike married Julia Hazel and they provided a host of “grand dogs.” Big Mike is also survived by his older brother James C. Simms and wife Lynn of Eglon, West Virginia, and younger sister Diane Simms Cornelius and husband Warren Cornelius of Townsend, Tennessee. Big Mike was known for his passion for music and was an accomplished singer and guitar player. In the 70s and 80s you could find him playing with his friends in the local bluegrass band “The New Grass Union.” He later played with his son and recorded an album titled Keepsake with “The Vint Hill Special,” the proceeds of which were used to help support his other passion, the sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ both locally and to the farthest corners of the world. Mike is preceded in death by parents Charles and Maudine Simms and Robert and Jenny Godfrey. He is survived by his loving wife Linda of 53 years, Daughter Wendy Atkinson, Husband Richard Atkinson, only Granddaughter Allison Atkinson, Son Robert “Little Mike” Simms and his Wife Julia Simms. He is also survived by extended family member Susan White Hawkins, her husband Kristian and their children Karson and Lindsay Hawkins as well as many nieces and nephews. Visitation Services will be held on Friday, October 28th from 2-4pm and again from 6-8pm at Greenwich Presbyterian Church in Nokesville, Virginia. A celebration of life service will also be held at Greenwich Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 29 at 11am with a reception to follow to honor Big Mike’s enjoyment of fellowship and building relationships. The reception will be held at Kettle Run High School, 7403 Academic Ave. Nokesville, VA 201851 (Less than 3 miles from church-approx. 5 minutes.) The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Greenwich Presbyterian Church to be utilized to further the mission of Jesus Christ. Donations can be mailed to 15305 Vint Hill Road, Nokesville, VA 20181 with the memo “In Memory of Mike Simms,” or given on-line at: http://www.greenwichpres.org/give Mission fund in Memory of Mike Simms. The family invites those near and far who are unable to attend in person to join the service online at https://greenwichpres.org/.

Michael Simms

March 6, 1949 - October 14, 2022