Herschel Joseph Simmons
Herschel Joseph Simmons Jr, 67, of Harrisonburg, passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
He was born on December 14, 1958, and was the son of the late Herschel and Iva (Muterspaugh) Simmons.
Herschel lived his entire life in Virginia. Several years of his childhood were spent in the Shenandoah Valley and in Charlottesville before his family settled in Manassas. He graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School and earned an associate's degree in Police Science from Northern Virginia Community College.
For the majority of his career, Herschel was an officer for the Uniformed Division of the United States Secret Service. He served from 1981 - 2002 under presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. His work with the Secret Service allowed him to travel to places including Reagan's Ranch in California and the Czech Republic.
After retiring from the Secret Service, he worked from 2002 - 2008 as a Security Specialist for the Executive Office of the President, collaborating with the Secret Service to provide security for White House personnel and grounds. He moved back to the Shenandoah Valley in 2008 and concluded his career as Protection Services Manager of Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, VA.
Herschel was a member of Victory Baptist Church in Staunton, VA and gave his life to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was an avid sports fan of the University of Virginia and attended as many games as he could. He enjoyed being active and outdoors, particularly doing landscaping and car detailing.
He is survived by a daughter, Rachael Simmons; sisters, Edwina Rose Hodges, and Sharon (David) Cockrill; former spouse, Robin Simmons; and numerous cousins and extended family.
A service celebrating Herschel's life will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Johnson Funeral and Cremation Service in Bridgewater, with Pastor Layne Lashley officiating. Burial will follow at Beaver Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the start of the service.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at johnsonfs.com.
