Lowell Simmons, age 72, was born on October 12, 1948 to Cecil and Minnie Thomas Simmons in Cumberland County, Tennessee.
A farmer all his life, Lowell started working on his dad’s dairy farm in the 1950s at a young age. They started with 30-40 cows and milked two cows at a time. On October 1, 1970, Simmons Brothers Dairy Farm was established by Lowell and his brothers Paul, Powell, and Sheldon. They began with a milking herd of 30 cows and increased to 60, then to 150. Their double-six barn milked twelve cows at a time. In June of 1989, they completed the construction of and started milking in their new dairy barn, in which at one time they milked a herd of 400. Their new barn was the first of its kind in the state of Tennessee. It was capable of milking 30 cows at a time as it was a double-fifteen parallel stall-style barn. The barn still milks a herd of 230 cows today. In 1990, the business expanded by adding another dairy farm in Bledsoe County. The dairy barn in Bledsoe County was upgraded in 1999 from milking eight cows at a time to twelve. Lowell and his brothers also milked cows on a dairy farm which they rented from Walter Hale for some years as well. Lowell bought a herd of cows from Howard Selby and milked them in his barn until the cows were moved. Not only did Lowell milk cows, but for a few years he also grew green beans and tobacco.
Lowell served on several boards of directors for the farming and dairy industries throughout his career; he served on the Cumberland Farmers Co-op board, Dairymen Milk Producers board, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers board, Southeast United Dairy Industry Association board (American Dairy Association), and he was serving a 38-year term with the Farm Service Agency Committee which ended with his death.
In addition to Lowell’s other impressive accomplishments, he received some awards over the years acknowledging his excellence in his career. In April of 1981, he received the honor of being The Greater Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce’s Featured Farmer Of The Month; in February of 1982, he was given recognition for his faithful service on the Board of Directors in the American Dairy Association; in 1983, he earned an award of appreciation from the Dairymen Milk Producers board for his outstanding service within the board; and in 2018 (and a few more years in the past), Lowell received the Pioneer Award from the Cumberland County Livestock Producers Association which recognized all of his work and advocation for the farming industry over this years.
Lowell was a wonderful person, husband, father, Pa, friend to many, and a one of a kind farmer. He taught his children, grandchildren, and other children who were lucky enough to spend time with him how to work and what the value of hard work is. Lowell was also he was a true Republican through and through. He never voted Democrat but, without naming names, if a Democrat friend was running for an office he didn’t vote against them.
Lowell loved farming, but working in general is what he enjoyed most. He was particularly fond of enjoying God’s beauty around him as he loved just getting out and riding around. He was always thankful for the blessings God bestowed upon him and his family and often thanked the Lord for everything He had done for him.
Lowell was diagnosed with stage five renal failure five years ago and was put on kidney dialysis there at his home. He worked until he physically could not any longer, which is when his love for getting out and riding around spurred up. Lowell and his loving, dedicated wife Linda set out for a drive almost every day, never knowing where their travels would take them. The two of them probably traveled every road in Cumberland County together, and some times they even made it out as far as Spring City, Rockwood, Cookeville, and Chattanooga.
On the afternoon of February 9, 2021, Lowell heard the voice of his Heavenly Father calling him home; his long, abundant, blessed life here on earth came to its peaceful end with his family gathered around him. Lowell started his beginning of eternity on God’s farm happily as we know his family and friends welcomed him home.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Simmons; sons, Jason Simmons (Chrishell), and Cecil Simmons (Lisa Erskine); daughter, Kristie Winningham (Gary); grandchildren, Kenzie Simmons, Autum Simmons, and Carly Winningham; sisters, Helen Burgess and Maralyn Jernigan; brothers, Paul and Sheldon Simmons; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Minnie Simmons; son, Chip Simmons; grandson, Lowell Scott Winningham; and brother, Powell Simmons.
Funeral services for Lowell will be held on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 11:00 at Crossville Memorial Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest in Akins Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, February 11, 2021 from 5:00 to 8:00.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lowell Scott Winningham FFA Memorial Fund at First National Bank.