Joe V. Simmons, age 77 of Pineview, passed away Sunday, October 22, 2017 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM Thursday, October 26^th in the Pope City Baptist Church. Visitation will be one hour before the service from 3-4 PM in the church. Reverend Danny Allen and Reverend Chuck Poplin will officiate. Interment will be in the family plot in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Mr. Simmons was born on January 26, 1940 in Pineview. He was son of the late James Charlie Simmons and Louise Pate Simmons. He was a self-employed farmer and owner/operator of Phillips 66 Service Station & Grocery Store in Pineview and Simmons Insurance Agency, Cordele. Prior to retiring he was an active member of the National and Georgia Watermelon Association. He served as a District 3 producer member on the National Watermelon Promotion Board and numerous positions with the Georgia Watermelon Association. He enjoyed spending time with family, watching family members and grandchildren play baseball, basketball and softball, traveling with friends, attending church and growing and selling watermelons. He was a member of Pope City Baptist Church and was preceded in death by a brother, Tom Simmons.

Survivors are:   wife of 58 years-Averill Simmons of Pineview, children-Vern (Liz) Simmons of Hawkinsville and Jeff (Lori) Simmons of Pineview, brothers-James Norman (Lela) Simmons of Rochelle, Jerry Simmons of Hawkinsville and Bobby (Roxie) Simmons of Hawkinsville, sisters-Betty Dominey of Macon and Rose (Al) Garner of Fayetteville, sister-in-law-Doris Simmons of Hawkinsville, 5-grandchildren and 5-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Pope City Baptist Youth, 2088 Gordon Rd., Rochelle, Ga. 31079.

Active pallbearers will be: Bill Poplin, Todd Poplin, Brian Simmons, Shane Rhodes, Dennis Stone, Michael Cranford and Rusty Lee. Honorary will be: Joey Bloodworth, Richard Nutt, Clark Howell, Lance Thompson, Michael Bloodworth, Scott Tripp, Herbert Miller, Johnny Shedd and Bubba Fuller.