Helen Frances Canaday Simms

Simms, Mrs. Helen Canaday, (95), a retired employee of Lakewood Manor Retirement Community in Richmond, died Friday, February 13, 2015, at her home at Lakewood Manor Born in Vermillion, SD, while her father was a professor at the University of South Dakota, Mrs. Simms was the daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Ernest F. Canaday. When she was 7 months old, her family relocated to Raleigh, NC, where her father was head of the math department at Meredith College for 44 years. She was educated in the Raleigh Public Schools and later graduated from Meredith College with honors, being inducted into the Kappa Nu Sigma Honor Society. Mrs. Simms was predeceased in 2003 by her husband, the Rev. Mr. Albert E. Simms. She is survived by their daughter, Mary Helen Patterson and her husband, Kendall W. Patterson, of Richmond, their sons, Albert E. Simms, Jr., and his wife, Lois A. Simms, of Fredericksburg, and David E. Simms and his wife, Anne S. Simms, of Lynchburg, and by their eight grandchildren: Richard A. Simms (Vanessa) of Fredericksburg, Rebecca P. Crutcher (Mark) of Lancaster, PA, Amy S. Easterling (Ray) of St Louis, MO, Martha S. Mikell (Abe) of Stuarts Draft, Stephen G. Patterson (Jennifer) of Charlottesville, Laura S. Webb of Lynchburg, Hallie S. Holland (Joe) of Culpeper and Meg S. Smith of Lynchburg, and by twenty great grandchildren. Also surviving is her sister, Mrs. Mary Ann (Stewart B.) Simms of Greer, SC. A lifelong active churchwoman, Mrs. Simms was a member of Derbyshire Baptist Church where she served as an officer in the Woman’s Missionary Union, a member of the Chancel and Golden Tones Choirs, and on various committees. Before moving to Richmond in 1974, she served as teacher of children and adults, choir member and WMU leader in churches where her husband was pastor in Lynchburg (Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church) and Newport News (Calvary Baptist Church) and in North Carolina. She served as Recording Secretary of the Virginia Woman’s Missionary Union 1976-81 and as Clerk of the Lynchburg Baptist Association 1969-73. She was a member of the Executive Committee of the Richmond Baptist Association, the Executive Board of the RBA Woman’s Missionary Union, the Meredith College Alumnae Board, and the Nathaniel Bacon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was employed as Administrative Assistant/Admissions Consultant at Lakewood Manor from its beginning in 1974 until retirement in 1983. She also served as a volunteer at the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and in the libraries of her church and of Lakewood Manor. A Memorial Service will be held in The Simms Center at Lakewood Manor located at 1900 Lauderdale Drive in Richmond, VA on Saturday, February 21, 2015, at 2:00 PM. The family will be available for visitation at 1:00 PM in the Living Room area adjacent to The Simms Center and also after the 2:00 PM service. Woody Funeral Home Parham is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond at PO Box 9157, Richmond, VA 23227, to Meredith College, 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5298, or to the Lakewood Manor Benevolent Fund, 1900 Lauderdale Drive, Richmond, VA, 23238. Condolences may be offered at woodyfuneralhomeparham.com.