Elijah “Buddy Boy” Odell Simmons, 64, of the James City Community, passed Wednesday August 12, 2026, at his residence.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Elijah is survived by his wife, Valerie Chapman Simmons, of the home; his mother, Mary Harris, James City Community; sisters, Mary Knuckles, New Bern and Tessie Simmons, MD.,; brothers, Terry Marshall, Fayetteville, Brian Harris, Trenton and Clarence Farrow, GA; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins