Huckabee to visit Bell Shoals

BRANDON -- Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will be speaking at Bell Shoals Baptist Church on Dec. 7.

He'll speak at the Sunday service, but it won't be political in nature, said Bell Shoal's senior associate pastor George Thomasson, who says he knew Huckabee long before his bid for the presidential nomination this year.

Huckabee was governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. Before that, he was a pastor and the president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.

To read more about what's going on at Bell Shoals, check out Friday's South Shore & Brandon Times edition or go here.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

Have an opinion on mass transit in Brandon?

Find out more about the future of mass transit at a community workshop Thursday in Brandon.

Representatives from the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority will be on hand to listen to residents and answer questions. The meeting marks the first time TBARTA has held a workshop in Brandon.

The workshop is 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, 2102 Bell Shoals Road.

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Bell Shoals to host widows' conference

Jaca DePriest, leader of the widow ministry at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, has organized a widows' conference meant to spread hope and information for widows of other churches and their leaders. The "Tis So Sweet Widow Conference" will be held at Bell Shoals Thursday through Saturday.  It will feature special talks on legal questions, grief issues and advice on beginning new relationships. The program is open to widows of all ages.

For more information call 689-4229, extension 314.

-- Doug Bennett, Times staff writer

Another death hits Bell Shoals

UPDATE: Services for Nix are scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. Doors open at 5 p.m.

BRANDON - Simeon Nix, music and worship pastor at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, died Sunday of an apparent heart attack.

It was the second death of a church leader in three months. The church’s senior pastor, Forrest Pollock, and his 13-year-old son died in a plane crash in May.

“It’s been emotionally devastating for everyone,” senior associate pastor George Thomasson said Monday. “The congregation is resilient, I guess is the best word.”

Nix is pictured above flanked by other pastors as they announced Pollock's death on May 13.

Nix, 47, suffered a heart attack Aug. 12. He underwent surgery at Brandon Regional Hospital and was released Friday, according to updates posted on the church’s Web site. He had some complications - an infection and diabetes - but was expected to recover.

Nix apparently suffered another heart attack at home at 11:45 p.m. Saturday and was transported back to Brandon Regional. He was pronounced dead there at 1:15 a.m. Sunday, the updates said.
He is survived by his wife and two children, adopted from Russia in 2001.

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

Nix was one of 17 full-time pastors at Bell Shoals. He presided over Pollock’s May 17 funeral in the church’s new 3,450-seat sanctuary. Nix’s charismatic mix of prayer and music during the service - including a song he wrote for the grand opening of the sanctuary - brought shouts of praise from the congregation.

“He was a great big man with a big heart for people,” Thomasson said.

On his personal Web site, simeonnix.com, Nix described himself as a “6 foot, 5 inch, 300-and-none-of-your-business-pound man.” He also recounted his childhood growing up in a foster home and told of his and wife Beth’s journey to adopt their children.

(Photo by Skip O'Rourke, Times staff)

Correction published Aug. 29: Simeon Nix, music and worship pastor at Bell Shoals Baptist Church was admitted to Tampa General Hospital on Aug. 12 and underwent surgery there before being released on Aug. 15. A story in the Aug. 22 Brandon/South Shore Times listed a different hospital.

--- Jan Wesner, Times staff writer

Bell Shoals Baptist Church to host candidate forum

BRANDON -- Bell Shoals Baptist Church is hosting a public candidate forum Tuesday evening. They expect 38 candidates.

The candidates are running for offices that represent residents of eastern Hillsborough County.

From 5 to 7 p.m., the candidates will mingle with guests and answer their questions. The forum starts at 7 p.m., and the candidates will speak briefly about what they would do if elected.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer