Christine Darby Simmons, age 93, a resident of Cloverdale and lifelong Lauderdale County native, passed gently to her eternal rest with her family and loved ones by her side Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013.
Christine was blessed with much loved and respected parents, Will and Mollie Haddock Darby, longtime residents of the New Hope and Central communities.
God blessed Christine with a wonderful husband and soul mate, L. C. Simmons, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were sisters, Altha Koonce, Nola Freeman, Ilene White, Vertie Bevis, Annie Goddard, Lena McIntyre and Myrtle Darby; and four brothers, Edgar, Homer, Houston, and Bruce Darby.
Early in life, Christine was blessed by God with a natural musical talent. She was exceptional at both the piano and organ. She was pianist for her church Liberty Baptist for many years. She was also called upon to play for other churches, weddings and funerals and special events. She was a well-known organist at horse shows in both Alabama and Tennessee.
Christine exhibited another talent, that of writing. She often expressed her feeling through songs and poems that were published in “The World Treasury of Great Poems.”
Politics was another interest of Chris’. If you wanted to know where she stood on an issue or person, all you needed was to ask her opinion.
Travel was another favorite pastime of Christine’s. Among memories was a trip to the Bahamas with her late husband, L. C. A trip to the Senior Friends Convention in Las Vegas led her and Florence friends, Betty Burdine and Christine Glover, to a desert trip ending in California.
A visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, at Greenview Funeral Home with a service of remembrance at 3 p.m. The Rev. Jim Warren will officiate, and the eulogy will be prepared by Deona Berrens, her granddaughter. It will be read by her close friend and neighbor, Dan Richardson.
She will be laid to rest next to her husband, L.C., in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include daughters, Frances Richardson (Billy) and Jeanette Smith (Gilbert); grandchildren, Deona Berrens (Joe) and William Richardson; stepgrandchildren, Brie Jackson (Michael) and Dawn Smith; great-grandchildren, David Joseph Berrens III and Darby Katherine Berrens; and one stepgrandchild, Colter Jackson.
Active pallbearers include William Richardson, Joe Berrens, David Berrens, Michael Jackson, Tommy Simmons, Dr. Robert Koonce, Billy Valentine, Percy Davidson, and Tracey Statom.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Men’s Sunday School Class of Liberty Baptist Church.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Gentiva Hospice, and Stephanie, and caregivers, Dawn and Barbara.
