Obituary of WILLIAM BUTTS SIMMONS III The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) - Friday, November 19, 1993 William Butts Simmons III, age 73, died on Thursday, Nov. 18, 1993. Mr. Simmons, a lifelong resident of Southampton County, retired from the Virginia Department of Agriculture after 35 years. He was a farmer and owned Sandy Run Farm in Sebrell. Mr. Simmons attended VPI and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He is survived by his wife of 49 1/2 years, Edna Hundley Simmons; and five children, Linda S. Hallstead of San Antonio, Tx., Susan S. Koster of Wilson, N.C., Kathy S. Clay of Petersburg, William Butts Simmons IV of Norcross, Ga. and Thomas Briggs Simmons of Sebrell. He is also survived by his two sisters, Mrs. Ernest W. Goodrich of Surry and Mrs. Edward V. Horton of Princeton, W.Va.; and eight grandchildren. Mr. Simmons was preceded in death by his parents, William Butts Simmons Jr. and Hylah Camp Simmons of Sebrell. Mr. Simmons was a member of Courtland United Methodist Church, having served as superintendent of Sunday School for many years. He was also a member of the Southampton County Historical Society, the Sebrell Civic Club, and a 50-year member of Masonic Lodge (NU)85. Mr. Simmons enjoyed his retirement with numerous hobbies and civic interests, including restoring antique gas engines, supporting and promoting the Southampton County Agriculture and Forestry Museum, working with and supporting the Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation and participating in the State Fair of Virginia. Mr. Simmons helped organize the Courtland Volunteer Fire Department in 1955. Graveside services will be conducted by the Reverends John Wimer, Tommy Lee, and David Angel at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 20, 1993 at Riverside Cemetery in Courtland . Wright Funeral Home is in charge or arrangements. The family will receive friends at Wright Funeral Home from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, November 19, 1993. Memorials may be made to the Courtland United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 127, Courtland , Va. 23837 or to the Southampton County Agriculture and Forestry Museum, c/o Mrs. Nancy Cogsdale, P.O. Box 27, Sedley, Va 23878. Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: D5 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary ––– William Butts Simmons III, 73, of Southampton County, died 18 Nov 1993. He farmed Sandy Run Farm, worked 35 years for the state agriculture department, and was active in church and civic groups. Graveside services for William Butts Simmons III were held 20 Nov 1993 at Riverside Cemetery, Courtland, with Reverends John Wimer, Tommy Lee, and David Angel officiating; Wright Funeral Home handled arrangements. ––– Transcript ––– WILLIAM BUTTS SIMMONS III The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) - Friday, November 19, 1993 William Butts Simmons III, age 73, died on Thursday, Nov. 18, 1993. Mr. Simmons, a lifelong resident of Southampton County, retired from the Virginia Department of Agriculture after 35 years. He was a farmer and owned Sandy Run Farm in Sebrell. Mr. Simmons attended VPI and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He is survived by his wife of 49 1/2 years, Edna Hundley Simmons; and five children, Linda S. Hallstead of San Antonio, Tx., Susan S. Koster of Wilson, N.C., Kathy S. Clay of Petersburg, William Butts Simmons IV of Norcross, Ga. and Thomas Briggs Simmons of Sebrell. He is also survived by his two sisters, Mrs. Ernest W. Goodrich of Surry and Mrs. Edward V. Horton of Princeton, W.Va.; and eight grandchildren. Mr. Simmons was preceded in death by his parents, William Butts Simmons Jr. and Hylah Camp Simmons of Sebrell. Mr. Simmons was a member of Courtland United Methodist Church, having served as superintendent of Sunday School for many years. He was also a member of the Southampton County Historical Society, the Sebrell Civic Club, and a 50-year member of Masonic Lodge (NU)85. Mr. Simmons enjoyed his retirement with numerous hobbies and civic interests, including restoring antique gas engines, supporting and promoting the Southampton County Agriculture and Forestry Museum, working with and supporting the Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation and participating in the State Fair of Virginia. Mr. Simmons helped organize the Courtland Volunteer Fire Department in 1955. Graveside services will be conducted by the Reverends John Wimer, Tommy Lee, and David Angel at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 20, 1993 at Riverside Cemetery in Courtland . Wright Funeral Home is in charge or arrangements. The family will receive friends at Wright Funeral Home from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, November 19, 1993. Memorials may be made to the Courtland United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 127, Courtland , Va. 23837 or to the Southampton County Agriculture and Forestry Museum, c/o Mrs. Nancy Cogsdale, P.O. Box 27, Sedley, Va 23878. Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: D5 ––– Vital Statistics ––– |-------------------------------------------------| | Name | William Butts Simmons III | | Age | 73 | | Birth | 1920 (estimated) | | Death | 18 November 1993; [location not stated] | |-------------------------------------------------| ––– Table of Relationships ––– |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Relationship | Residence | | William Butts Simmons III | Decedent | Southampton County, Virginia | | Edna Hundley Simmons | Wife | [Residence not explicitly stated] | | Linda S. Hallstead | Daughter | San Antonio, Texas | | Susan S. Koster | Daughter | Wilson, North Carolina | | Kathy S. Clay | Daughter | Petersburg, Virginia | | William Butts Simmons IV | Son | Norcross, Georgia | | Thomas Briggs Simmons | Son | Sebrell, Virginia | | Mrs. Ernest W. Goodrich | Sister | Surry, Virginia | | Mrs. Edward V. Horton | Sister | Princeton, West Virginia | | William Butts Simmons Jr. | Father (predeceased) | Sebrell, Virginia | | Hylah Camp Simmons | Mother (predeceased) | Sebrell, Virginia | | Nancy Cogsdale | Other (memorial contact) | Sedley, Virginia | | John Wimer | Officiant | [Residence not stated] | | Tommy Lee | Officiant | [Residence not stated] | | David Angel | Officiant | [Residence not stated] | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Publication Details ––– |--------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Location | Norfolk, Virginia | | Name | The Virginian-Pilot | | Date | 19 November 1993 | | Edition | FINAL | | Section | LOCAL | | Page | D5 | |--------------------------------| ––– Other Relevant Information ––– • Lifelong resident of Southampton County, Virginia • Retired from the Virginia Department of Agriculture after 35 years • Farmer and owner of Sandy Run Farm in Sebrell • Attended VPI • Served in the U.S. Army during World War II • Member of Courtland United Methodist Church • Superintendent of Sunday School for many years • Member of the Southampton County Historical Society • Member of the Sebrell Civic Club • Fifty-year member of Masonic Lodge (NU)85 • Restored antique gas engines • Supported the Southampton County Agriculture and Forestry Museum • Worked with the Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation • Participated in the State Fair of Virginia • Helped organize the Courtland Volunteer Fire Department in 1955 [Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may have contributed to the creation of this text. 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