Virgil Simms

Virgil A. Simms, 79, passed away on March 31, 2012. He was born to T.C. Simms, Sr. and Jessie Raines Simms on August 15, 1932, in Quitman, GA. He attended schools in Brooks County, GA, and graduated from Vidalia High School in 1951. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict from 1952-1956. Following discharge, he moved to Jacksonville and worked for Wilson-Toomer Fertilizer Company on Talleyrand Avenue.

Virgil began his career in law enforcement on October 28, 1961 with the Jacksonville Police Department. After Consolidation, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office first Traffic Homicide Unit was authorized in October 1969. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on November 6, 1971 and served as the head of Traffic Homicide Section for 22 years. His Traffic Homicide Unit was the first to be accreditated in the state of Florida in August 1992. He retired from JSO on April 8, 1994 after serving his community for over 32 years. He is a member of Christ Church in Mandarin, the F.O.P. Lodge 530 and NARC.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his uncle, Capt. C.L. "Rip" Raines, who was assistant Chief of JSO. Survivors include his wife, Gloria; daughter, Susan Simms; brother, T.C. Simms, Jr., all of Jacksonville; sister, Annabelle Foures of Callahan; step-son, George R. Richardson; step-daughter, Deborah J. Viscardi and husband, George; step-grandsons, Paul Galvin and Nicholas Richardson; step-granddaughter, Kelly S. Cuevas and husband, Roman; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation with family and friends will be held Tuesday, April 3, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 4th at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. The family would like special thanks to go out to Baptist South, 6th floor staff for their professional care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the F.O.P. Crippled Children's Christmas Party.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida 32223. www.hgmandarin.com. (904) 288-0025.