Ruth Ernestine Simmons

Ruth Ernestine Debnam Simmons was the daughter of the late George Debnam and Mollie Ann Farrar Debnam. She was born in Franklinton, North Carolina and was the second child of this union of George and Mollie Ann Debnam. Ernestine departed this life on December 8, 2011.

She was married to Frank Morris Simmons for over 50 years and they have two daughters Ardith J. Arnelle Price and Frostine M. Simmons.

Ernestine confessed Jesus Christ at a very early age under the leadership of the late Rev. M.W. Williams at First Baptist Church in Franklinton, North Carolina. After moving to Raleigh, N.C. she united with First Baptist Church in Raleigh where she was very active in the church choirs, leadership groups, study groups and Sunday school.

Ernestine was a Social Group worker in Washington, D.C., Hammond, IN and Detroit, MI. She was a teacher in North Carolina, Minneapolis, MN and Jackson, MI. She taught for over 30 years and gave so much to the young people she taught. Likewise her students gave her much joy and pride for their life accomplishments.

After coming to Jackson, MI she united with Second Baptist Church, and then in the later years of her life she united with Trinity Wesleyan Church. She never felt tired; she was always on the go finding great things to do. Ernestine became a part of many community activities while starting new organizations to better her community and mankind. She received a host of awards in her life and continued to give right up to her last few months before illness took her life.

Ernestine had many foster children that she nurtured throughout the years and she and her husband Frank established an educational scholarship for deserving young adults at Michigan State University.

She leaves behind her husband, Frank M. Simmons, daughters, Ardith Arnelle Price (Michael Price “her Son”), Frostine M. Simmons, granddaughter, Janaya (great-granddaughter Nilah Ellison), foster daughter Iva Jean Smith and grandchildren Brianna and Jasmine, her special brother sister, Dr. J. Deotis Roberts and Elizabeth Roberts and their family, and a host of family and friends.

Family Hour will be Wednesday, December 14, 2011 from 11:30AM-12:00PM at the J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home, 811 Finley Drive, Albion, Michigan 49224. Funeral Service will be Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 12:00 P.M. at the funeral home with Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hood III. Burial will be at Albion Memory Gardens, Albion, Michigan.

Assistance with Memorial Contributions to: Simmons Endowed Scholarship in Education c/o MSU, 513 Erickson Hall, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 is available at the Funeral Home