Joyce M. Simms

Joyce Mae Newkirk departed this earthly life for her heavenly home on Sunday, February 2, 2025. She was 79 years old. She was born on Tuesday, May 15, 1945, to the late Timmie and Eva Bell Newkirk in Clinton, North Carolina.

Mother Joyce Simms was a retired custodian worker at SUNY New Paltz. She loved to fish with her brothers, as well, and enjoyed sewing and cooking. She loved and adored her family. Being the matriarch of the family and the prayer warrior, Mother Joyce Simms is who the family would call on to get a message to the Lord.

Mother Joyce married the love of her life, Hubert Simms on September 11, 1982, and been together for 42 years. She was an amazing wife, mother, auntie, grandmother, cousin and friend. She was and still is loved and cherished by so many. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing and meeting her knew her as “Mother Simms”, “Deaconess Simms”, the matriarch, the prayer warrior, the helper, a friend, the potato salad and sweet potato pie specialist, and someone who always lent her hand as a servant.

Mother Simms loved The Lord with her whole heart. Mother Joyce M. Simms, formerly known as Deaconess Joyce M. Simms at PHJC of Modena, NY; where she first gave her life to Jesus Christ and served for 37 years from 1976 until 2013. She then became a member of The Christian Community Deliverance Center in Modena, NY, where she served for 12 years until the Lord called her home. Her favorite songs were “Try Jesus” and “Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus Don’t Take My Heart Away.”

Mother Joyce Simms leaves to cherish fond memories; her loving husband, Hubert Simms of Modena, NY; her amazing 5 children, Joyce Marie Welch of Philadelphia, Mississippi, Patricia Seeden-Gordon (Alvin Gordon) of Wallkill, NY, Eva Carr of North Carolina, Gloria Smith (Reginald Smith) of North Carolina and Larry Seeden of Poughkeepsie, NY; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren; bonus children, Marie Simms, Jeanette Simms, and Kevin Simms; siblings, Thurman (Ida) Newkirk, Earl (Mae) Newkirk, Dorothy (Jethro) Black, Peggy (Horace) Newkirk, Rose (Tyrone) Gordon, Michelle Newkirk, Tony Newkirk, and Daryl Newkirk; goddaughter, Shana Bates of Clintondale, NY; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

In addition to her parents, Timmie and Eva Bell Newkirk, Mother Simms is predeceased by her two children, Rodney Seeden and Patsy Graham; grandson, Georgie Davis, Jr., and her son-in-love, Nathaniel Welch; her sisters, Marie Newkirk, Glenda Newkirk, Bonnie Newkirk, and Brenda Newkirk; brothers, Raymond Lee Newkirk and Michael David Newkirk.