Portrait of Donald Simms. IMB Photo

Donald McVay Simms, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Mexico, died May 27, 2025. He was 92.  

Donald was born Jan. 12, 1933, in Mobile, Alabama, to the late Oscar McDaniel Simms and Hattie Louise Cain Simms. He graduated from Murphy High School, Mobile, and received the Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University, Waco, Texas, and the Bachelor of Divinity from New Orleans (Louisiana) Baptist Theological Seminary.  

After high school, he began predental study but felt deeply that God was calling him to preach. While seeking missionary appointment, he recalled one late night during college when he prayed and finally yielded completely to God’s will for his life.  

He met Barbara Prestwood in the summer of 1952, and they were married on March 5, 1954. He began seminary that fall and was pastor of the New Light Baptist Church in Mangham, Louisiana. Later he was called as pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Wharton, Texas, and in 1961 as pastor of the Hollinger’s Island Baptist Church in Mobile. 

While seeking missionary appointment he wrote, “In August of 1961, Barbara and I were attending a revival meeting in Daphne Baptist Church where Dr. B. Gray Allison was preaching. He spoke on missions that night and through him God spoke to our hearts. During the invitation Barbara tugged at my coat sleeve and with tears in her eyes asked me why could not we go. Conviction was heavy on our hearts. … After much prayer, we placed our lives on the altar for missionary service.” 

In 1965, the International Mission Board appointed Donald and Barbara missionaries to Guatemala, where they worked in evangelistic theological education. They later served in Costa Rica and Mexico and retired from missionary service after more than 30 years. 

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Barbara Simms; his daughter, Kathryn Sutton; one granddaughter; four great grandchildren; and one nephew. 

A memorial service was held June 21 at Brookhaven Church in McKinney, Texas.