Obituary of Mrs. M.L. Simmons

The following obituary was transcribed by Suzanne Forte (suzanneforte@bellsouth.net) from a scrapbook in her possession, belonging to her great grandmother, Cora Lorena Foster Weeks. Lorena was born Jan 25, 1877 in Freestone Co, Texas and died Jan 6, 1952 in Gilmer County, Georgia. This obituary was presumably from the Gilmer County newspaper, the Times Courier, but could have been from the Atlanta, Georgia, newspaper, the Atlanta Journal/Constitution.

Surnames: Simmons, Bell, Perry, Thayer, Hudson, Stembridge, Poindexter, Pettit, Osborn

Date: 18 May 1948

"Last Rites Held Tues. At Cartecay for Mrs. M. L. Simmons"

   Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Simmons, 88, known affectionately to her neighbors and friends as "Miss Mollie" died at a local hospital Monday afternoon, May 18, after a protracted illness. She was kind and gentle in word and deed.

   Born September 18 1859 in Madison county, Tennessee, "Miss Mollie" moved with her family to Jonesboro, Ark where she met and married the late Mr. L. M. Simmons who brought her to Cartecay community and settled on a fam where they lived until his death in 1923. Since then she has made her home with a daughter, Miss Florence Simmons in Ellijay. She joined Cartecay Methodist church about sixty years ago and was a consistant and faithful member until her death. Her parents were the late Jasper and Nancy Rosemond Bell of Arkansas.

   In dispotion and her relations with others Mrs. Simmons matched perfectly the beautiful flowers in the culture of many varieties of which she so delighted. Her own happy labor cared for them as exclusively as she could control until she was well past eighty five years of age and her health began to fail. She was happiest when giving blossoms, plants and seeds to admiring passersby.

   A most fitting feature of her last rites was the vast number of floral offerings which lined the church, almost matching the minister's tribute.

   Survivors include her children, S. S. Simmons, Brunswick, Ga; Paul S. Simmons, Decaturville, Tenn, Miss Florence Simmons and Mrs. Howard Perry, Ellijay; Mrs. E. W. Thayer, Atlanta, thirteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

   Funeral services were conducted by a former pastor, the Rev L. F. VanLandingham, Tate, Ga, assisted by the Rev C. B. Cochran local Methodist minister, at her home church at Cartecay with interment in the churchyard family plot. Pallbearers included Ernest and Raymond Hudson, Robert and Joel Stembridge, C. C. Poindexter, Sr., Frank Pettit and Les Osborn. Logan and Son were motricians in charge.