Simmons Dedication Ceremony: Simmons Memorial Service

From my archives:  On May 23, 1999 some of the descendants of Silas and Janet "Jenny" Freeman Simmons gathered at a small church in New Augusta, Mississippi.  They joined together in a ceremony to celebrate the new grave markers placed on the burial site of ancestor Silas Simmons and his wife Janet "Jenny" Freeman, and their son Thomas Simmons who died young.  Mr. Howard Simmons, a long-time Simmons researcher, was the featured speaker.  He spoke of the history of Silas and his family who migrated to Mississippi from South Carolina.  Guest speakers, Paul and Elizabeth Simmons Grimes, talked about the decision made to place new grave markers on the burial site and the efforts of those who contributed the necessary funds to make the event real.   The event was also captured on video which was sent to those interested.  

Featured Speaker:

Mr. Howard Simmons

Guest Speakers:

Paul & Elizabeth Simmons Grimes

Each member of the Simmons Family stood and gave a 

brief introduction of himself or herself and their family line.

Left to right:  Miriam Simmons (wife of the late Willie Simmons) and

Paul & Liz Simmons Grimes take a moment to chat.  Miriam Simmons

has been a State Representative for Mississippi District 100 for

several years.  Paul and Liz Grimes are both retired and spend a 

great deal of time doing research on their family lines.  They

traveled from their residence in Georgia to be a part of this event.

Mr. Howard Simmons, one of the eldest members of the Simmons 

family, enjoys sharing some of the information he has gathered for years

on the descendants of Silas Simmons.  He is shown here with Polly Simmons Allen.

John E. Simmons came from Sugarland, Texas to be at this special event.

He is shown here with Mr. Howard Simmons.  John organized the dedication

ceremony service and introduced the speakers.

After the ceremony, many of the family members and guests enjoyed

refreshments and conversation in the fellowship hall of the church.

Polly Simmons Allen and her daughter, Robin Allen Lambert, traveled

from Gulfport, Mississippi to attend the ceremony.  They are shown here

browsing through old photos of family members collected by Emmitt Simmons Jr.

Will Simmons and his father Stephen look over some information on

Simmons descendants.  They are from Columbia, Mississippi.

Emmitt Simmons Sr enjoyed a cup of coffee and chat with Miriam Simmons.

Emmitt and his wife Margie traveled from Pascagoula, Mississippi to attend

the dedication ceremony.

Left to right:  Reverend Joseph Drew, Emmitt Simmons Jr & Barney Neal Simmons

enjoy some refreshments.  Rev. Drew is the Pastor of Old Enon Baptist Church and

officiated the dedication ceremony.  Emmitt Simmons Jr and his wife Wanda traveled 

from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to attend the ceremony.  Neal Simmons drove from his

residence in Bossier City, Louisiana to attend.

John E. Simmons (left) gave a brief interview for Channel 7 News.

A clipping of the ceremony was featured on the 10:00 news in Hattiesburg,

Mississippi that same night (WDAM- Channel 7).

Irene Simmons Fite, Dell Simmons Parsley and Dwayne Stringer 

Family members mingled outdoors for a little while

Front row, left to right:  Emmitt Simmons Sr and wife Margie, Barney "Neal"

Simmons, Wanda and Emmitt Simmons Jr, Ila Simmons, Bertha Simmons and 

Irene Simmons Fite.  Back row:  Dwayne Stringer, Will Simmons, Dell Simmons

Parsley, Stephen and Celia Simmons.

Front row, left to right:  Ila Simmons, Bertha Simmons, Celia Simmons,

Margie Simmons, Wanda Simmons, Miriam Simmons, Howard Simmons

and Robin Allen Lambert.  Back row:  Susan Bourgoyne, Emmitt Simmons Sr,

Emmitt Simmons Jr, Dell Simmons Parsley, Will Simmons, Dwayne Stringer,

Stephen Simmons, Irene Simmons Fite, Barney "Neal" Simmons, Polly Simmons

Allen, Paul Grimes and Lula Sue Simmons Powell.

Simmons Dedication Ceremony: Newspaper Article

From my archives, June 1999

I wrote an article about the Simmons Grave Site Memorial event and it was published in the Columbian-Progress newspaper (June 5, 1999).  The Columbian-Progress serves the area of Marion County, Mississippi. 

For easier reading:

Several descendants of Silas and Jenny Freeman Simmons gathered together on Sunday, May 23, at Old Enon Baptist Church Cemetery in Forrest County (located in Perry County before Forrest County was formed) to honor the memory of Silas Simmons and to dedicate a new grave monument placed on the burial sites of Silas Simmons, his wife Janet "Jenny" Freeman Simmons and their son Thomas Simmons.  The original grave markers were destroyed.  The project to place a new monument at the site began in 1995 and was accomplished by the generosity of Paul and Elizabeth Simmons Grimes (Jonesboro, Ga), Howard Simmons (Columbia, Miss) and John E. and Martha Simmons (Sugarland, Texas).

According to available records and family research, Silas Simmons was about about 1794 in South Carolina. He married Janet "Jenny" Freeman, also born in South Carolina and thought to be of Indian descent.  Silas and Jenny Simmons migrated to Mississippi in the early 1800's.  He enlisted in the War of 1812 in Feliciana Parish, La.  He fought in the battle of New Orleans under Capt. Thomas Neasom, Consolidated Company, 10th Regiment Louisiana Militia commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William Willis.  He was discharged March 25, 1815.  On the 1820 Mississippi census record, Silas Simmons was listed as a resident of Perry County.  Census records later indicate that Silas and his wife Jenny had nine children:  William, Mary Angarone, Abner, James, John J., Malinda, Eliza, Benjamin Franklin, Matilda Elizabeth and Thomas.  Thomas Simmons died at the age of 17.

The dedication ceremony was organized by John E. Simmons and was held in the sanctuary of Old Enon Baptist Church with Pastor Joseph Drew officiating the ceremony.  Guest speakers were Paul and Elizabeth Simmons Grimes and Howard Simmons.  Paul and Elizabeth Simmons Grimes have been actively researching the Simmons history and have traveled through several states visiting courthouses, libraries and archives in search of links to the family history.  They shared some of their information about the research with the audience.  Howard Simmons, a long time resident of Columbia shared some of his recollections about the history of Silas Simmons and his descendants with the audience.  He stated that he has been interested in the Simmons history since the 1940's and has been recording information since then.  Following the dedication ceremoney, the family and guests visited the cemetary and viewed the new monument placed on the grave site.  After viewing the new monument, family and guests were served refreshments in the dining area of the church.

Attending the dedication ceremony from Columbia were Lula Sue Simmons Powell, Susan Gail Bourgoyne, Frank Powell Sr, Howard Simmons, Miriam Simmons (wife of the late Willie Simmons), Irene Simmons Fite, Bertha Simmons (wife of the late Shelby Simmons), Stephen and Celia Simmons with children, Ila and Will Simmons and Dwayne Stringer (son of the late Christine Simmons Stringer).  Attending from out of town were John Ellis and Martha Simmons (Sugarland, Texas), Emmitt Sr and Margie Simmons (Pascagoula, Miss), Dell Simmons Parsley (Pascagoula, Miss.), Emmitt Jr and Wanda Simmons (Baton Rouge, La), Polly Simmons Allen and her daughter Robin Lambert (Gulfport, Miss), Barney C. "Neal" Simmons (Bossier City, La), Paul and Elizabeth Simmons Grimes (Jonesboro, Ga).  Other guests attending were Roger and Bev Melvin (Petal, Miss), Mrs. Joseph Drew, Mrs. O.R. Smith and Ruby Slade.

Several members of the Simmons Family are now researching their hertiage.  With the help of Mr. Howard Simmons and others, they have gathered a wealth of information on the Simmons line.  By working together, they hope to find more links to their heritage and they hope to find more information on the ancestors of Silas Simmons and where they migrated from.  Also, plans are underway to have a "Year 2000 Simmons Grand Reunion" next spring or early summer. Anyone with information they would like to share with the Simmons family or anyone interested in the reunion plans may contact at her email address, cbourg@cblink.com., or may write to her at 28 Spell Drive, Columbia, MS 39429.

Simmons Dedication Ceremony: Perry County GenWeb

The Perry County GenWeb site featured an article on the Simmons Memorial dedication also.  Click here to view the live page or see below:

Simmons Dedication Ceremony: Gathering of Newfound Cousins

From my archives, May 1999:

I had such a great time meeting my newly found "cousins" that day.  I can hardly believe it's been 13 years since I've seen them!  I lost my records in a house fire back in 2006, including all of their contact information, and most of them live out of my home state.  I'm going to work harder this year on locating them.  I'll make that one of my "tasks" for 2012- to reconnect with my Simmons cousins!