Lloyd Dayton Simmons Sr.
January 20, 2004
We sometimes see the greatness and love of our God by the kind of people that He sends into our lives. Who would have thought that little black boy, born under the weight of segregation and racism, working in the cotton fields of Mississippi earning five cents a day would one day rise to change the way the United States Navy prepared it’s warships. God did. You see when God sent Dayton Simmons into New Albany Mississippi on October 7th 1914, he already knew what Lloyd was going to do because in Psalms Psalm 139:16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
If this same Lloyd Simmons had been born a generation earlier, he may have spent his entire life picking cotton. If he had been born two generations earlier he would have been born a slave. But God had ordained other days for him. You see if you had of seen him out their picking cotton, you might not have known that one of the days ordained for him, included him inventing a new smaller circuit board that could more accurately guide the torpedoes in the US Navy’s warships. His circuit board was installed in the noses of US torpedoes. We have a black inventor here who we ought to be reading about in our text books.
Lloyd Dayton Simmons was a lot of things in the days ordained for him. A son, a brother, a friend, an uncle, a cousin, an inventor, a father, a husband, a graduate, an elder, a bowler, a hunter and so much more. But of all the things he was, the greatest of them all is that he was a child of God.
Yesterday we celebrated Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. I think some of the words from Dr. King’s sermon on “the Drum Major Instinct” in which he talked about what he’d like said at his funeral could be said by Lloyd. In that message Dr. King said, . I won’t have any money to leave behind. I won’t have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind.
But I just want to leave a committed life behind. And that’s all I want to say. If I can help somebody as I pass along, If I can cheer somebody with a word or song, If I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong. Then my living will not be in vain. If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought, If I can spread the message as the master taught,
Then my living will not be in vain.
Is there one anyone who can testify, that Lloyd left a committed life as part of those days ordained by God. Can anyone testify, Lloyd helped me get out of jam I was in? Can anybody testify that he lifted my spirits when I was down or made my laugh with one of his jokes? Can anyone testify he gave me counsel that helped me to get my life back on track? Can anyone testify he taught me the message of Jesus Christ either at home, or in Sunday School or at Bible study. Can anybody testify that he was an example for me as he followed Jesus Christ? Is there anybody who can look at him, and say, “no, your living was not in vain?”
When God created us, He created us all unique with different personalities. We are to glorify in the uniqueness that He has given to us. I usually referred to Lloyd as either Simmons or Doc Simmons. He often called me Senior Ricardo. So if I refer to him as Simmons or as Doc, you know that’s how we related to each other.
Doc Simmons used his gifts and his talents to the glory of God. When I asked his family to describe him, they said, “he was a hard worker”, “funny”, “innovative”, “good looking”, “charming”, “ambitious”, “musical”, “intelligent”, “God-loving”, “witty”, “upbeat”, “spiritual”, “gifted”, “proud”, “creative” and “cantankerous”. Now if you knew Simmons, and you didn’t know that Simmons, could sometimes be a pain in the neck, you didn’t really know Simmons.
At the core of his being Simmons loved God and loved people. He started out in life a little wild, but I remember his last testimony he gave here in church. He said he had an aunt that use to pray for him all the time, but that she died before he started serving God. He said, “I wish she could see me now.” You see it’s not so important how we start in life, it’s how we finish the race that makes all the difference in the world.
One of the best decisions that Simmons made in his life, was to set his eyes upon Bernice Darby. That decision led to a marriage, which led to five kids, which led to 23 grandchildren, which led to 34 great grandchildren. If nothing else, Simmons and Bernice will get a reward for fulfilling one of the first commandments which was to replenish the earth. They have done that quite well. Simmons dedicated himself to taking care of his family. They all testify to what a great provider he was.
Now for those of you who get into arguments the first year of your marriage do not despair. Ms. Simmons told me that she and Lloyd got into an argument as soon as they were coming down the courthouse steps. Yet they survived and were married for 53 plus years. Ms. Simmons, I want you to know that your husband often bragged on you at some of our Men Who Excel Meetings about what a wonderful you have been to him through the years. I would often tell him, “Simmons you need to go home and tell her some of the things you tell us about her.” I wanted to hit upside the head, because he’d respond “ahhh, she already knows it.”
I remember on another occasion when he was in the hospital, how he was bragging how you had just stayed there with him. Then he said, “you know she said she’s coming back in a few hours.” He had such a glow in his eyes when he said it, as though your presence was the greatest gift he could possibly receive there in that hospital. I know he didn’t say it enough, but he really loved and appreciated you.
Pastor Toby and I commend you for your faithfulness of being there for 53 years with a man who loved you dearly, but had one cantankerous spirit within him. Your sacrifice of love and devotion truly exemplified itself in the taking care of your husband during his period of Alzheimer’s. You two together lived out the meaning of the words for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.
Together you built a family, that’s been a blessing to many other people’s lives. Now when it came to discipline, it was not Simmons the kids feared, but their mother. Simmons gave whippings on rare occasions. He chose to be the fun parent. He lived a life that gave his family a lot of special moments. They shared family picnics and vacations together. He was there to co-sign those first cars together.
He was there at basketball games through the years. He was there to watch his son score the tying basket as the clock wound out. He was there to rush Delores to the hospital to give birth to her child, only to get lost on the way. He was there to pick them up for church. He was there to help them through crises when they became adults. He was there to tell them the same stories again and again laughing each time as though he was telling the joke for the first time. Simmons was a hero in the eyes of his children. They believed their father could fix just about anything, and they were right.
Simmons had his favorite words: He liked saying, “Bernie”, “Valencia B”, “Colored Folk”, “Evenin Y’all, Hi ya’ll”. “It’s cold Out Che”. “””AYYY what do you want now.” “I’m going to Bernice’s house.” If you asked him to say grace, he always started “Gracious lord, let me be truly thankful for this food I’m about to receive.” If you listened to him when he got out of bed in the morning, the kids remember him starting his day with the words, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
The same love Simmons had for his children, spilled over onto his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Their home was an open door for family members going through difficult times. One of his grands testified with love and appreciation, “he was the only father I ever knew.” Even at the church, many of our youth would called Simmons Granddaddy.
When Pastor Toby and I came to the church some 15 years ago, there were three men here who were going to play a crucial role in the rebuilding of the church. They were Lloyd Simmons, Eugene Thomas, and Oenver Milan. The three guys and I were instrumental in repairing the church. Inside, I called us the four horsemen of Glenville. You can’t walk anywhere in Glenville without coming across the work of the four horsemen. The pews you’re sitting in, the lights that are above, the ceiling, the walls, the toilets, the floors, the sound system, the plumbing, the water fountains, the roof, and the tile on the floor were all affected by the four horsemen.
Now Eugene Thomas was the visionary of the group. He saw what could be done. Simmons was the brains, he usually knew how to do it. Milan was the muscle and peacemaker, because Simmons and Thomas would argue over which was the best way to do it, and I was the go for servant. I would go to Session to get the money to do it and then we would do the job.
Oh it was so much fun arguing with each other on whatever the job was. I remember one time I hit my finger trying to nail the wood into the ceiling. Simmons came to my aid with great sympathy by saying, “Senior Ricardo, you may know a lot about pasturing, but the purpose of a hammer is to hit the nail and not your finger. We all about died laughing.
I learned so much from those guys about plumbing, electrical work, laying floors, and a whole lot more. I was amazed at how Simmons knew so much about so many things. The man was a genius. All you had to do was just put up with him fussing and you could learn a whole lot.
Simmons gave of himself in keeping this building together. He saved the church literally thousands of dollars in repairs. He was committed to using his talents for the rebuilding of the kingdom of God. Simmons later came on staff as our maintenance worker. It was in that period that he and I bonded like true brothers. He would tell me often, “if I ever had a brother I’d want him to be just like you.” He and I both have a kindred spirit and we both like humor.
He’s tell me, “if I ever get a lot of money, I’m going to move back to Mississippi and build a large church.” I’m going to have you and Pastor Toby come down and be the pastors.” I’d say, well where are you going to get the people for the church.” He’d say, “If it’s my church, I don’t need no people in it. I’ll let in who I want to let in.”
One story he must have told be about 20 times was when he was working, the colored people use to sit in the lunch room by themselves and the whites would sit on the other side. One day this white guy went over and sat with the colored people. He did this several times in a row. Finally, this irked the whites to no end. They confronted the white guy. They came over to the table where he was sitting and said, “what are you doing sitting over here. Are you colored? The guy, said, “No I ain’t colored, I was born this way.
Simmons enjoyed making people laugh. I never could say, “well Simmons, I’ll see you tomorrow”, because he’d always respond, “not if I see you first.” Simmons was one of the tremdous gifts that God gave to Glenville. We are so thankful that God’s plan for his life included the days that were ordained for him to be a part of this church.
He made himself available to be used by God. Not only in the physical building of the church, but the spiritual life of it as well. He provided his counsel on the Session to help keep the church moving forward. He was there ready to teach Bible study or Sunday School with the same kind of zeal regardless of the size of the class. When he was able, he had a rich deep voice that he used in the Men’s chorus.
He was committed to serving both the local church and the larger church as well. He probably gave more of himself to Presbytery and Synod Committees, and to the Black Presbyterian Caucus than anyone else in our church. He even volunteered to work in the office at presbytery after leaving the maintenance job here.
He was faithful in his giving. He made sure that his per capita was paid. Simmons was a team player. If he said he was going to do something, you could count on him to do it. He was a true soldier for the cause of Jesus Christ. He was one of my closest friends in the ministry. I personally am thankful that God ordained for his days to be a part of my days on this earth.
The Apostle Paul was one of the great early Christian leaders. God used him to write part of the Bible. Paul knew that he was about to lose his life after being condemned to die for his faith. He wrote these words in 2 Tim. 4:6-8
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Paul’s testimony has become Simmon’s testimony. For he has fought the good fight, he’s finished the race and he’s kept the faith. Now there is a crown that he shall receive alongside of the aunt who prayed for him all those early years of his life.
Lloyd Dayton Simmons has left behind a legacy of ordained days and has gone to be with Jesus Christ. You may think, with all the joy and laugher he brought into the lives of his family and friends, and with all the love and commitment he gave to his wife, children, and grandchildren, Lloyd certainly deserves to go to heaven
But if could speak to us today, he would say that’s not quite true. You see, according to the Bible, none of us deserves to go to heaven. Did you know that according to Jesus, most people will not go to heaven?
Jesus said in , Mat 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Entering into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to enter that narrow gate. All you have to do is to admit, "God, I have done a lot of things I should not have done. I realize I cannot pay for all that I have done. I ask you for forgiveness. I accept that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, He being holy and righteous, paid the penalty for my sin. I invite him to come into my life and take control of it." Simmons made that decision years ago and has not regretted it since.
You will make numerous decisions in your life between your birth and your death. But the only decision that will still be personally affecting you a 1000 years from today, is what did you do with Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches there will certainly be a resurrection of everybody from the dead, and then comes the judgment of God.
Frank Fields Sr. is prepared for that Judgment. Like the Apostle Paul she can say, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
We may say of Frank, was my friend, he was my uncle, he was my brother, he was my father, or he was my husband, but the greatest truth of them all is that George Frank Fields Sr. is and forever will be a a child of God who has now completely returned to God. For those of us who die without knowing Jesus Christ. George Frank Fields Sr., will only be a memory, a very good and loving memory. But for those of us who do know Jesus Christ, George Frank Fields Sr. is simply waiting to meet us on the other side.
For the Bible clearly teaches,
1 Th 4:13 Brothers and sisters , we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men and women, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
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