Cotty Parks Simms

Mrs. Cotty Parks Simms, 87, teacher at Highland Park Elementary School for over thirty years and resident of Azalea Drive, died Tuesday at Life Care Center. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. Ray Newell and Rev. Garie Taylor officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Medicus Eddie Parks and Alma Thompson Peery Parks. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Simms in 1984. She was a graduate of Columbia Central High School and earned a degree in elementary education at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. Mrs. Simms was a long-time member of the Riverside United Methodist Church. Active in civic and community affairs, she was a member of the James K. Polk Association, Maury County Retired Teachers Association, Jane Knox Chapter, DAR and Columbia Garden Club. Survivors include nieces and nephews, Norma Parks Thomas, Joe H. Parks, Robert S. Parks, Richard Parks, Pete Parks, Eddie Parks, Ulna Parks, Wanda Reynolds, Linda Gail Moore, Nancy Crumley, Martin Parks, all of Maury County and Patricia "Pat" Pylant Gilliam of Tarpon Springs, Florida; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.