Junior Dell Simmons

Junior Dell Simmons, age 98 of Sharon, passed away Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Van Ayer AHC Nursing Home in Martin, after suffering a heart attack in June.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at Corinth Baptist Church in Sharon, Tennessee. Visitation will be open from 10:30am until the service begins at 1:00 pm with burial to follow in Corinth Cemetery. Bro. Terry Griffin will officiate the service.

He is survived by son, Charles “Eddie” (Peggy) Simmons; daughters, Gail (Sam) Darnell; Nancy Scott, and Diana (Dathan) Arant; 8 grandchildren: Eric Simmons, Katie Simmons Graves, Samantha Darnell Ray, Dustin and Daniel Arant, & John, David, and Charles Scott; brother, Robert Simmons, 99, of Crossville, and sister, Bonnie Bowers, 97, of Birmingham.

Junior was preceded in death by his wife of 77 years, Sylvia; his parents, Robert Roy Simmons and Iva Dell Hedges; brother, Gaylon Simmons; sisters, Georgia Hill, Thelma Doherty, and Martha Nichols; 2 grandsons: Trevor Arant and Lance Darnell; a son-in-law, Mike Scott.

Junior was born at home near Como, TN. He walked to Eagle Hill School and is a graduate of Cottage Grove High School. He grew up on a farm and spent most of his life working hard at the job he loved: farming. He married Sylvia Elinor in Corinth, Mississippi, February 11, 1946.

He left for Army basic training in Aberdeen, Maryland, March of 1946. He arrived at Yokohama, Japan, in November 1946 to serve in occupied Japan.

Upon his return from Japan, he bought 17 acres of farmland and returned to the house in Como where he was born and they started their family. The family attended Thompson Creek Baptist Church where he was ordained as a deacon. In 1958 they bought a farm in the New Salem Community near Sharon. They became active members of Corinth Baptist Church, where Junior served as a deacon and a Sunday School teacher for many years. He and his family were actively involved in their community and always quick to help a neighbor.

Junior’s son farmed with him all his life. Ever expanding, they raised crops and livestock. Junior became semi-retired but continued to work with Eddie, at which time they were working about 1,000 acres. He found a new hobby: collecting and restoring antique Allis Chalmers tractors. He enjoyed gardening until Sylvia died. He never completely stopped working until he went to the nursing home with her in the fall of 2023. After her death he lived at Greenbrier Meadows Assisted Living until his heart attack in June.

He loved his family and was happiest when the family was all together. He also loved his church family, extended family, and his many friends. He will be sorely missed, but now there is rejoicing in heaven.