Family members, religious colleagues and school friends packed the pews yesterday at the Bethel AME church in Columbia for the funeral of the 74-year-old Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr. Simmons is the last of the nine victims of the June 17 shootings at the predominantly black Charleston's Emanuel AME to be buried. They were shot at a Bible study Simmons regularly attended.
During the course of his career with the AME church, Simmons served at or was a minister at eight AME churches in the state, his associates recalled.
"This man never rested. He always worked. He always had work to do," said state Sen. John Scott in remarks at the funeral.
