Bishop Jack A. Simonds, 79, of Andrews died Saturday, May 15, 2010 in a Murphy medical center. He was a native of Swain County, but had lived in Cherokee County for most of his life. He was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the United States Army. He was a retired Church of God minister having been licensed in 1948. Rev. Simonds pastored many churches including Benson, Dunn, South Baltimore, Peachtree, and retired from the Andrews Church of God after 27 years. He was presently a member of the Peachtree Church of God.

He was the son of the late Joseph L. and Dora Bowers Simonds. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Mae Wyke and Ruby Morton; a brother, Charles Simonds; and two great grandsons, Jacob Laney and Marcus Jett.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Shirley Martin Simonds;  seven daughters, Evelyn Anthony of Calhoun, GA, Patricia Pritt of Charlottesville, VA, Jackie Smith of Hickory, NC, Linda Waldroup of Murphy, and Carolyn Anderson, Roxanne Cosner, and Loretta Huskins all of Andrews;  two sons, Jack Simonds, Jr. of Greensburg, KY and David Simonds of Bryson City, NC;  three sisters, Clara Lynn of Turtletown, TN, Ruth Ivester of Young Harris, GA, and Nell Hamby of Andrews;  five brothers, Frank Simonds of Andrews, Wayne Simonds of North Wilkesboro, NC, Richard Simonds of Lowell, NC, John Simonds of Cramerton, NC, and Bill Simonds of Clover, SC;  24 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren;  and 76 foster children including Elizabeth Sutherland and Tony Goodson.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, May 18 in the Peachtree Church of God with Revs. Curtis Ledford and Gayle Jenkins officiating. Interment was in the Valleytown Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the Murphy American Legion Post 96, Murphy DAV Chapter 73, Murphy VFW Post 10222, Hayesville American Legion Post 532, Hayesville VFW Post 6812 (Allison-Bristol), and NC National Guard. Pallbearers were Vinton and Jack Anthony, Jerry Moneymaker, David and Andy Jett, Wade Hamby, Andrew Simonds III, David A. Simonds, Michael Huskins, and Tony Goodson. Honorary pallbearers were Revs. Mitchell Totherow, Ronnie Ledford, Michael Kearns, William Brewer, Jimmy Hall, and Lyndon Anderson.

The family received friends from 5-8 Monday evening at the Peachtree Church of God.

Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews in charge of all arrangements.