Worship Pastor For Bell Shoals Baptist Church Passes

By 316Networks.com

Published: August 18, 2008

For the second time in just over three months, the congregation of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Tampa is dealing with the loss of a pastoral staff member. Simeon Nix, Bell Shoal's worship pastor for the last thirteen years, suffered a heart attack late Saturday night and passed away early Sunday morning at Brandon Regional Hospital.

Nix earned the masters of church music in voice from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1988 and the bachelors of church music from Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss. in 1983. He served churches in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida and was a featured artist and speaker for workshops, revivals, crusades, conferences and conventions in the United States as well as a number of international events.

In 1997, Nix recorded a project entitled "I Will Abide,” and in 2000 "A Journey of Grace," produced by Jay Rouse and Randy Vader at Gaither Studios in Indiana.

Over the last three months, Nix was instrumental in guiding the heartbroken church through its grieving process following the death of Senior Pastor Forrest Pollock and his son in a plane crash. Through both his music and countless counseling sessions with members, Nix helped the church realize that God was indeed in control and that He still had a plan.

Gary Payne, a friend and staff colleague of Simeon's was quoted as saying, "He was never afraid to give you a big hug and tell you that he loved you."

Last Tuesday, Nix was hospitalized after experiencing significant chest pain. Doctors cleared the blockage by inserting a stent. His prognosis was good for a full recovery. He was released from the hospital Friday and told friends and fellow staff members how good he felt. He even took a short walk around the neighborhood Saturday night with his wife and some friends.

Late Saturday night, Nix suffered another heart attack and passed away a few hours later. He was 47 years old.

Simeon leaves his wife, Beth, and the two children they adopted as toddlers from Russia: Bre'Ana, 7, and Sterling, 7. His extended family was the Bell Shoals congregation, which numbers about 7,000. Funeral arrangements are pending.