James Preston Simmons Sr.

James “Jim” Preston Simmons, Sr. passed away Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at his home in Drew, Mississippi.

 Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, at Cleveland Funeral Home. The Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, in the Cleveland Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Greg Chamblee will officiate the service.

Jim was born on May 23, 1944, in Yazoo City, Mississippi to Robert Berkley Simmons and Mattie Pearl Breeland. After graduating from Yazoo City High School, Jim joined the U.S. Air Force. Upon returning from the Air Force, Jim worked for the family carpentry business. He later went to work at Delta State University Physical Plant in the HVAC department for 25 years until his retirement. When Jim retired, he then moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to do electrical work, and then to Daytona, Florida to do maintenance for a motel chain. Jim moved back to Drew, Mississippi in 2005. In Jim’s spare time, he loved to grill and cook, fly model airplanes, and scuba dive.

He was preceded in death by his parents Robert Simmons, and Mattie Pearl Simmons, and siblings; Priss Wright, Bobby Simmons, and Nan Simmons.

 Jim is survived by his loving wife, of 19 years Judy Loper Simmons, Son James Preston Simmons, Jr. of California, Daughters, Jiva Marie Pate (Bill) of Bandera, Texas, and Stephanie Nicole Burney of Cleveland, MS., sister Gwen Allen of Hazlehurst MS., and Brothers John Simmons of Houston, Texas, and LeRoy Simmons of Fort. Worth, TX. James also leaves behind 9 grandchildren. and a host of nieces and nephews to cherish his memory.

Honorary Pallbearers are Bill Pate, Sammy Garcia, Kevin Jones, Johnathan Vance, Louis Santucci, and Dewey Hudson.

Cleveland Funeral Home has been entrusted with service arrangements. The online guest register may be signed at www.clevelandfuneralhome.net.