Candace S. Simms

Candace S. Simms, a 50 year employee of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), died Aug.28 of cancer at Gilchrist Hospice Baltimore surrounded by her family. The longtime Ashburton resident was 72. Candace Lisette Scott, was the sole child of the late Ronald David (“Dave”) Scott, a United States Postal Service Supervisor and the late Elsie Lee Bradby Scott, an educator whose expertise was serving the hearing impaired. She was raised on Ruxton Avenue in the Coppin Heights neighborhood and later on Sequoia Avenue in Ashburton. Mrs. Simms was a 1967 graduate of Western Senior High School and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, with a Physics Minor in 1971. She received a Masters of Arts in Economics in 1972 from Tufts University. Following graduate studies at Tufts University, Mrs. Simms commenced an internship with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) and upon completion of her Masters’ degree, was hired as a Housing Development Branch Analyst in HUD’s Boston Field Office and served in a variety of positions there from 1972-1975. In 1975, she transferred to HUD’s Baltimore field office to work in a housing branch programs position. She was promoted to Chief of the Housing Programs Branch and was later promoted to the Housing Development Division Director for the Baltimore Field Office in 1986. In 1998, Mrs. Simms was promoted to Public Housing Director where she managed the Maryland and West Virginia Public Housing Program Center (“PC'') in the Baltimore Public Housing Hub office. She provided administration and technical direction of the public housing grant programs to 62 housing agencies in the states of Maryland and West Virginia. Mrs. Simms joined a HUD national review team providing assessments to housing authorities throughout the United States. This work detail led to several other local housing agency reviews that required travel to Louisiana, Texas and Illinois. She served in this role from 1998-2008. Mrs. Simms culminated her HUD career with a role in HUD’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C. From 2008 until the time of her death, she served as a Program Liaison Specialist for HUD’s Public and Indian Housing, Office of Field Operations at HUD’s National headquarters. Post pandemic, Mrs. Simms shifted to situational telework in the Baltimore Field Office and then permanent telework from home. On a “blind date” in 1967, she was introduced to Stuart (“Stu”) Simms, a student at The Gilman School. The date led to a multiyear relationship through high school, college, and graduate school. The couple wed in 1973. ”I was blessed to have her by my side for 49 years”, wrote her husband, attorney, Stuart Simms of Baltimore, former Baltimore City State's Attorney and former Secretary of both Public Safety and Juvenile Services, in a biographical profile of his wife. The couple resided in the Ashburton neighborhood for over 40 years. For more than seventy years, Mrs. Simms was active communicant of St. James Episcopal Church Lafayette Square where she worshiped with her late parents during her school age years. When Mrs. Simms returned to the Baltimore metropolitan area in 1975, she returned to Saint James and served as a member of the Fellowship of Saint Francis Guild, where she enjoyed supporting the efforts of Saint James’ youth and young adults. She also served as a member of the Rector Search Committee to select then rector and now Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church. Mrs. Simms served on Saint James’ Finance and Audit Committees and served for a period as editor of the church’s monthly newsletter. Mrs. Simms also chaired the Discernment Committee to coach seminary students on congregational care and church administration areas during the latter phases of their seminary work. Mrs. Simms' church commitments included serving at the Diocesan level for the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. She served under the tenures of former Bishops, The Right Reverend A. Theodore Eastman, The Right Reverend Robert W. Ihloff, and The Right Reverend Eugene Taylor Sutton on various auxiliary and standing committees aimed at developing the discernment process for aspiring Episcopal priests. Mrs. Simms served for many years on the advisory board of The Children’s Guild, Episcopal Social Ministries (“ESM”) and the former Liberty Medical Center's Urban Medical Institute. She also served on the executive committee as treasurer for Western High School’s class of 1967 50th reunion and was part of the planning team for her class’ upcoming 55th reunion. Mrs. Simms strongly supported women’s leadership development. She was inducted into The Harbor City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, an international women's service not-for-profit organization, established in 1946. She held several offices in her chapter including serving as Chapter President. Mrs. Simms enjoyed spending time with her family and previously served as a caregiver to her late father, uncle and several cousins. For relaxation, she enjoyed attending plays, visiting her grandchildren in Atlanta and later in Nashville, the symphony and traveling with her husband to various cities to see her former childhood friend and grade school classmate, Anna Deavere Smith, perform in off-Broadway productions. One of her favorite pastimes was “outlet shopping” at the various shopping outlets in the Mid Atlantic area and vacationing at the beach with her husband, sons, and lifelong best friend, Gayle Guilford. In addition to her husband of 49 years, Mrs. Simms is survived by her sons, Marcus Simms of Marietta, Georgia and Paul Simms of Nashville, Tennessee, and daughter-in-law, Erin Simms of Nashville, Tennessee, granddaughter, Gabriella Simms and grandson, Elliott Simms, both of Nashville, Tennessee, father and mother in-law Clarence and Louise Simms of Baltimore, Maryland, brother and sister-in law Edward and Paulette Simms of Baltimore, Maryland, Godmother, Vashti Christmas of Huntsville, Alabama and a host of godchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. Celebration of Life Services will take place on Saturday, September 24th at Saint James Episcopal Church-Lafayette Square located at the intersection of West Lafayette & North Arlington Avenues, Baltimore, Maryland 21217. Family Hour and organizational services will begin at 10:30 AM with organizations and remarks at the start of the family hour. Mass of Resurrection to follow at Noon In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in the memory of Candace Simms be made to: Sandra and Malcolm Berman Pavilion at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in care of GBMC Philanthropy 6701 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21204 to support service and research for cancer patients

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Candace S. Simms

May 6, 1950 - August 28, 2022