Mrs. Lisa Elizabeth Simms Snipes, 55, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital.
She was born to Frison “Etric” Simms and Shirley Simms on Sept. 19, 1967, in Rockingham.
Our family has the honor to be served by the McNeill Funeral Home and Lisa’s Life Celebration and Memorial Service will be held at Abundant Life Church of God located at 1797 E. Broad Ave. in Rockingham, on Friday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m. Officiating at her service will be Pastor Joe B. Wilkes and additional speakers, Pastor Brian Clark, the Rev. James E. Brigman Jr., and Dr. Fred D. McQueen Jr. Special singing will be presented by Gabrielle Weatherford Torres, Rosa Gatewood, Stephen McMillian and Carol Capel. Afterward, a meal will be provided by Linda and DeMarcus Huff and Sly’s Diner for the Snipes/Simms family and friends in the fellowship hall of the Church.
Although we grieve for the loss of a great wife, bonus mama, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend, we find comfort in knowing she has been made whole once again and will no longer have suffering and pain here on earth. We know as soon as life left her earthly body, she was in the presence of Jesus and was greeted by hugs and kisses from her Mother and Father and a host of loved ones and friends gone before. She loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. The alto section in Heaven’s choir sounds even sweeter when she joined.
Lisa graduated from Richmond Senior High School in 1985 and later in life went back to school and earned her associate degree at Richmond Community College in Hospital Administration. Before her health no longer allowed work, she loved working at the Hamlet Hospital and gained a special lifelong friend, Peggy Treadaway.
Lisa dedicated her life to loving her family and helping us in any way she could. She was a mama to all of our kids and we couldn’t have made it without her right by our sides. Lisa also enjoyed helping others and served in many community activities and church activities throughout her life. She loved singing and ministered through song for years along with her lifelong friend, Barbara Swanner Schoonover.
Lisa was a member and troop leader for the Girl Scouts of America where she helped teach and mold many young girls’ lives and was also honored to be the recipient of the Pine Cone Award. She loved the Lord and loved going to church and worshiping when her health allowed. Through the years, she served in many capacities, singing in the choir, helping with VBS, Sunday school teacher, director of plays, leader of Woman’s Ministry and any other way the church family needed her.
Lisa is preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Simms; father, Etric Simms; grandmothers, Janie Scott and Frankie Jenkins; grandfathers, Haston Scott and Etric Brown Sims; aunts, Betty Burroughs, Mary Scott, Diana Waldrop Sims and Joan Todd; uncle, Sam Scott; mother-in-law, Dianne Snipes; and sister-in-law, Wendy Snipes.
She leaves behind her soul mate, husband and love of her life, Kenton “Ken” Snipes of the home in Rockingham, whom she was blessed to have by her side in life each day and also when she took her last breath. Also, her brother, Scott (Michelle) Sims of Linden, Virginia; uncle, Benjamin “Nick” Scott of Rockingham; aunt, Kathy Scott of Kings Mountain; father-in-law, Boe Snipes of Rockingham; brothers-in-Law, William “Willie” Snipes of Rockingham, Lance (Virginia) Snipes of Maxton and Eric (Lynn) Snipes of Rockingham; sister-in-Law, Laura (Brian) Clark of Franklinville; nieces, Brooke (Jason) Norton, Shirley (Jose Flores) Sims, Angel (Robbie) Shankle, Millie Clark, Neyvn Snipes and Diana Snipes; nephews; Etric (Tracey Chavis) Sims, Boe (Emily) Snipes, Clint Snipes, Eric Snipes Jr., Little Robbie Shankle, Cayden Shankle, Isaiah Clark, Isaac Clark, Joshua (Alysa) Clark, Jeremy Clark, Aiden Snipes, Josia Snipes; great nieces and nephews, Jason Norton, Meredith Norton, Lucas Norton, Arianna Clark, Emma Clark, Aliza Clark and Johan Flores; and great-great nephew who also called Lisa “Ma,” Etric Allen Sims Jr.
The family is receiving friends at their home in Rockingham on Marigold Street. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in remembrance of Lisa to the Abundant Life Church of God at 1797 E. Broad Ave., Rockingham, NC 28379.
