Roberta Simmons

Roberta was born Roberta Pace on August 22, 1922, in Madison, Mississippi. Roberta’s childhood was one of hardship. Not only did she and her family go through the Great Depression but her father was killed when she was about 5 years old. The oldest son of the eight children in her family had to leave school, become the man-of-the-house and breadwinner at age 16. They soon had to leave the family farm and moved to Jackson, MS.

In Jackson Roberta overcame the hardships, continued with her education and became Valedictorian of her class. After high school she worked at various jobs until she met and married John Henry Simmons after he returned from serving in the military during World War II. Not long thereafter they had a daughter Bobbye.

Eventually the family moved from Mississippi to Galveston and then to Houston a couple of years later. Roberta found a job working in insurance after arriving in Texas. Because of her 25 years of loyalty and contributions to the agency in Houston, the owner awarded her with a life pension, something not given to others in her office. She was recruited to work at a second insurance agency where she eventually retired after 5 years. In retirement Roberta loved to plant and view beautiful flowers. Roses were her favorite.

Roberta was preceded in death by her father Felix Pace and her mother Nina Simmons Pace. She was also preceded in death by her seven brothers and sisters; Clinton Pace, Mattie Lou Gullette, Ina Jean Bowron, Wenona Serpas, Marshall Pace, Mabel Hughes and Dorothy Dubose. She is succeeded by her daughter Bobbye Simmons Chauffe. Special acknowledgement is given to Karen Savage and Lareta Kelly who, along with Bobbye and her husband John, worked tirelessly providing Roberta care during the final years of her life.