My Testimony

On April 21, 2008, my first-born child, Adam Simms was born into this world. He was one of the most precious gifts God gave us, and loved by so many. From the first day he was born, I would sing to him daily several different songs, but his favorite song was, “You Are My Sunshine.” He loved to watch Mickey Mouse, play with trains, run, sing, go fishing, and his favorite color was purple. He was full of life. The morning of May 21, 2010 (he was 2 years and 1 month old) as his dad (Brian) was getting ready to leave to go to work, Adam woke up and said, “Daddy, come here” several times. When Brian would go to him, Adam would not say anything, so Brian eventually left, and went on to work. The night before, Adam wanted to sleep with us, which was unusual but of course, we let him. As I was dropping him off at my mom’s house later that morning, I remember kneeling down on the front porch and getting a huge hug and kiss from him, and we both said, “I love you,” then he went into the living room to watch Mickey Mouse. My mother told him she was going to the bedroom to gather the dirty clothes to bring to the laundry room. When she finished, which was only a minute or two, she went to the living room, only to see Adam not sitting there. She thought he was just hiding, and looked everywhere inside. After several minutes of searching, even though his shoes were by the door, and all doors were secure, she went outside to look. Still, no sign of Adam anywhere. A short time later, I received a phone call at work (I was working for an attorney’s office at the time). My gut instinct was that something was wrong. When I picked up the phone, the fear in my mom’s voice was a sound I will never forget. She said Adam was missing. She said she had already made contact with the police, and that they were on their way. I do not remember how I drove home from work, but I made it, and began looking in the woods with others near the pond. The whole time, I had a gut feeling; a mother’s instinct, that he was in the pond, so while searching, I told the officers, I felt that’s where he was.

Back-story: A few weeks prior to this day, my dad had purchased several ducks to live near the pond. Every afternoon, when my dad would get home from work, my dad and Adam would go fill the white container with feed at the barn, walk to the pond together, and feed the ducks. When they finished feeding the ducks, my dad would clean out the bucket by filling it with pond water and then dump it out. Then they would walk back to the barn, and put the white container back up.

After searching for a few minutes, my dad and I looked towards the pond and saw the white container floating under the dock. Dallas Boyd (our hero and angel on earth), who was off work that day, heard my mom call out for him because he is a scuba diver. Dallas heard her, got on his gear, and proceeded to get in the pond. In a matter of minutes, our whole world would forever change. Dallas found Adam at the bottom of the pond, under the dock. I began to scream out, “Why Lord, please don’t take my baby!” When we got to the hospital, we were told there was nothing left that they could do. All the thoughts going through my mind were, how could God take our baby. Adam was loved and so well taken care of.  He had his whole life ahead of him and we should not be burying our son. All of these thoughts were flooding through my mind. We were then approached by the Alabama Organ Donor Association via phone and was asked if we would like to donate his heart valves and bone marrow, which would save the lives of two children. After talking it over with my husband for a few minutes, we agreed to donate, to give two other children life. I then held Adam’s lifeless body for hours as we waited for Adam to be taken to the Alabama Organ Donor Association. When they arrived, we sent him with his favorite stuffed animal, Mickey Mouse, and kissed him bye. The next day we met at the funeral home, to make arrangements. I remember singing “You Are My Sunshine” to him during the service, and how you could feel the Holy Spirit move in Lee Street Baptist Church that day. Our heart was shattered into a million pieces and from that day, it changed our whole life but never once, did we ever turn away from God. We clinged to God and each other more than ever in our time of grief and need. The one thing I did stop doing after Adam passed away was, I stopped singing. God gives us gifts to use to glorify him, but in my time of mourning, I had no interest in singing because my heart was so broken. Looking back, we believe Adam wanted to surprise his paw-paw and feed the ducks before he got home. When he finished feeding the ducks, we believe he bent down to fill the container up with water, exactly how his paw-paw did it, not realizing it would be heavy and he fell over. Adam loved to watch the ducks splash the water, as they would feed them. He told his pawpaw each time, “dat funny pawpaw.”

In April of 2011, God blessed us with another little boy, Bryson, who has put so much joy back into our lives. When Bryson started Kindergarten, I decided to go back to school to become a teacher and finish what I started right out of high school in 2002. My dream has always been to become a teacher, but it was never the right time, so I trusted the Lord, and waited on him, if it was in His will. Before I started college again, I knew I had to supplement my income somehow, so I began praying for God to send me a part time job. At the time, I was working at the Probate Office, and Brother Mark Cooper came in, and said I had been on his mind a lot lately about leading the music at the church he just started preaching at. Keep in mind, I quit singing for over 4 years. After a few attempts to get me to come visit the church, I felt this was what the Lord had planned for me. That next Sunday, my family went to Hebron Baptist Church, and I sang for the first time in years, and it felt wonderful. I knew this was all in God’s plan; I just had to trust and follow him. I took the position, leading the music faithfully while going to school to get my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. God knew exactly what I needed, and provided a way for me to use my voice again for him, and I followed His will.

Jeremiah 29:11 states, For I know the plans I have for you, “ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Adam has also been with me every step of the way with little signs that let me know he was cheering me on. For instance, while attending Troy State University in Dothan, AL, the name of the building I received my degree in was called, “ADAMS HALL.” The amount of blessings upon blessings that God gave me during the process has been overwhelming with a humble heart. That is why it is so important to have faith and wait on God’s timing. Be patient, obedient, serve and honor Him, and the blessings will unfold. His time is always perfect. God brought me out of the fire, and got me back singing when I felt I had nothing left in me for years. There is Victory in Jesus! When I graduated college in 2020, I began working for a wonderful school system. Teaching Kindergarten has been a blessing to me, and I enjoy getting to use my talents in the classroom. I also started a choir program for third through fifth grade. Last year, I decided to enter the Alabama Music Association singing competition under the category of Traditional Gospel and won Adult Female Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year. From there, I advanced to compete at the North America Country Music Association held at the Country Tonight Theatre in Pigeon Forge, TN. On March 18, 2024, I was awarded Adult Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year for Traditional Gospel. God is good, and after 14 years, I am ready to tell my story to the world. God gave me a gift, and I want to glorify Him and tell you all, do not give up hope, no matter what you have been through, lean on God! He will never leave you, nor forsake you as it states in Deuteronomy 31:6. I am here to testify, God brought my family out of the darkness and without believing in him, we could not have gotten through this. Yes, we have our family and friends, but only God can give you the peace and comfort that you need. One day, when our time on earth is finished, we will get to see our Adam again, and what a glorious reunion that will be.

Some bible verses that I leaned on during the storm and currently are:

Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Proverbs 3:5–6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.

 Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 Psalm 108:3

 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

Psalm 89:1

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 146:2

While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

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Beverly Brown Simms

PH: 334-464-2513

BeverlyBrownSimmsmusicministry@yahoo.com