Marcella Simmons, of Lewisburg, KY, passed away Thursday, February 6, 2014 at Creekwood Place. She was born in Gassville, Arkansas to Roy and Belle Johnson on August 31, 1921 and was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joseph F. Simmons, Jr., and her sister, Mary Lee Fee.
She was a graduate of Arkansas Tech Junior College in Russellville, AR and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in music from North Texas State University in Denton, TX, and a Masters of Religious Education and Masters of Sacred Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. She was a teacher of music at Southwestern Seminary, East Texas Baptist College in Marshall, TX, Central College in North Little Rock, AR, public schools, and privately in her home.
After she married Joe F. Simmons, Jr. in 1950 and his graduation from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, they served together as Ministers of Education and Music in churches in KY, MO, and AR. She was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Lewisburg, KY.
She is survived by her children, Joseph LeRoy and Tomi Simmons of Fordsville, KY, Teah Layne Sloan of Peoria, IL, and Forrest Randall and Miriam Simmons of Senoia, GA; five grandchildren; four great grandchildren; one sister, Mildred Chappelle of Augusta, GA; sister-in-law, Barbara Rogers of Kansas City, MO, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations sent to Missouri Baptist Children’s Home St. Louis, 11300 St. Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044.
The family chose cremation, with Memorial Services held at Kirkwood Baptist Church, St. Louis, MO with burial in the Gassville, AR cemetery.