Minnie Mae Simmons Obituary (1926 - 2021)

Minnie Mae Simmons, a long-time resident of Texas City, Texas passed away on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at the age of 95, in Webster, Texas. Minnie was born May 5, 1926 to Julia Chinn and Edward Burton in Galveston, Texas and attended Galveston Public Schools. She married Robert Simmons in Galveston, Texas before he went to serve his country in WWII never to return safely to his family. He was killed in France in July 1945. As a young widow, Minnie made the hard decision to leave her children with their grandmothers in Galveston and she went to New York to live with other relatives until she secured a home for herself and her young children. In New York, she was employed with the United State Postal Service and the New York City Transit Authority that aided her in enrolling her children in the Catholic School System. When Minnie returned to Galveston to care for her ailing mother, her son Robert Jr. had already returned to Texas. He was attending Texas Southern University in Houston when she decided to complete her higher education and secured her undergraduate degree (the story goes she and Robert competed against each other for grades and both made the dean's list) and her Masters Degree. While living in Galveston, Minnie worked in Houston where her employment included the Neighborhood Centers, Vocational Guidance Services, and eventually at TSU in the Counseling Center where she made and kept long-term friends among the staff and students. She retired from TSU in 2009 but she would continue to receive phone calls, home visits, and correspondences from the students and staff. In her home she proudly displayed pictures of children of students. Minnie was a Silver Star Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Gamma Omega Omega Chapter. She was a past treasurer and held numerous Chair Person positions of her chapter. She loved her AKA sisters and the pink and green. Her beloved AKA Sisters remained a constant support for her during her failing health with daily calls, food, visits, and outings. Minnie was blessed with Angles in the form of earthly friends in her neighborhood, Mr. Henderson (a Jack of all trades "I'm going to live until I die") and his family, Vincent and Louretta Burnett who "adopted" her, and Shelia Edwards her "secretary". Eventually Minnie could no longer remain in her home, required specialized care and entered Heartist Clear Lake assistant living and memory care. In her love for working with, counseling with, and being around young people, she became a "self-appointed staff and counselor at Heartist". If you are familiar with those pink and green, pearl wearing ladies of AKA, you know they continued their services to Minnie during her stay at Heartist. Soros Joyce Schells, Sandra Green, Shirley Simpson and Winifred Gilmore visited Minnie and joined the family in celebrating holidays and Minnie's birthdays. These ladies helped to make MInnie's new environment comfortable and as homey as possible by decorating her apartment at Heartist. Expert advice and assistance was also extended to the Simmons family. We are excited that Minnie got to see in her lifetime the first elected Black President of these United States of America and most recently the first elected Black female Vice President and AKA Sorority sister. Minnie transitioned to her Heavenly home after a family visit and zoom call with her children and a beloved great nephew. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Simmons Sr., and daughter, Bernice Francis. She is survived by son, Robert Simmons, Jr., of Houston, Texas; daughter, Jeannette Marie Francis of Bronx, New York; grandchildren, Leticia Garner (Rodney, Sr.), Robert Simmons III (Melitta), Roderick Simmons, Reginald Simmons, and John McGhee; three great-grandchildren, DeAndre Simmons (Kiara), Christian Ellis, and Delicia Simmons; special great nephew, Marcus Hennigan; eight great-great grandchildren, and a special daughter, Vernell Wiltz are left to cherish her memory. Guests are invited to share in a Celebration of Life Visitation from 5-7:00 p.m., with a 6:00 p.m. Reciting of the Rosary on Friday, October 1st, 2021 at Carnes Funeral Home, 3100 Gulf Freeway, TX 77591. Celebration of Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 1224 Cedar Drive, La Marque, TX 77568 with Interment to follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 2506 65th St. Galveston, Texas.