Doris Simms Obituary

Mrs. Simms was a beloved high school English teacher at James Island High School. I fondly remember her advanced English class. May she rest in peace.

Mrs. Simms was my junior English teacher and speech teacher at James Island High when it was located on Camp Road in the 1960s. Later when I became an English teacher and part of the faculty, she was a role model and mentor to me. As a teenager and as a woman, I grew academically, personally, and professionally because I was blessed to know Mrs. Simms as both my teacher and a fellow-faculty member. She was a brilliant, avid reader and gifted writer. She was also an extraordinary educator who challenged adolescents to expand their minds, their life skills, and their love of literature. I cannot think of another teacher who was more respected than she. I have been a teacher for more than three decades now, and still I think back to the days when I was blessed to sit in her classroom and learn from such an outstanding woman. In the 1990s I wrote an article entitled "In the Footsteps of Mrs. Simms" that was published in Center Point, the newspaper of SCCTR/CERRA. I wanted teachers across the state of South Carolina to know how she has been such an inspiration to countless teachers and students. May God bless you, Mrs. Simms. I will always love you.

My Aunt Doris was a wonderful person, witty and educated, while at the same time, refined and dignified. She was always mentioned with the highest respect and regard by the brothers and sisters of her late husband Edmund. Doris was recognized as a scholar who was able to contribute in a meaningful and common-sense manner to "spirited" family discussions. Her three daughters are fortunate to have had such a loving and gifted Mother.

I was a student of Doris Simms in the early 60's at First Baptist High School. She was the finest English teacher I ever had. I can still quote poetry she required memorized and still cite rules of writing she taught from application. She was the first teacher to tell me I could write well.



About five years ago, I received a letter from Mrs. Simms. She had seen me speaking on television and asked if I were her former student. Soon after, we were visiting together in her home. She played the piano for me, relived shared days at First Baptist School and spoke of her family. It was a delightful day.



I will remember this sweet lady with fondness. God's blessings of peace upon her family.

Doris and sister lived on our floor at BishopGadsdem. I believe we moved in about the same time. I often could hear her playing her piano or saw the two sisters going somewhere for music lesson or to play. We just saw her a few weeks ago out by the fountain. We share in your loss.



b

I had the pleasure of getting to know Mrs. Simms while working at Bishop Gadsden. She always had a beautiful smile and had never lost her love for music. Often times while working I could hear the soft strains of music coming from her room and as I walked in she would have the most beautiful and content smile on her face. She will be missed by all who knew her at BG. I am sure she is in Heaven listening to the beautiful music and smiling down on us. My condolences to the Simms family.