Edna Miss Willie Simmons

Edna Wilson Simmons, 91, was born on April 3, 1920 in Jackson, Louisiana. She went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 16, 2011 in a local hospital.

Mrs. Simmons became a registered nurse after graduating from nurses' training at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans. She moved to Lake Charles and was employed by St. Patrick Hospital, where she was known by her coworkers as "Miss Willie." She also worked as a scrub nurse for Drs. Campbell and Phillips. In Lake Charles, she met and married her husband of 53 years, Boyce Simmons. She was a faithful member of Lake Charles Bible Church until the time of her death. She was a loving mother and grandmother, who said the highlight of her life was taking care of and spending time with her grandchildren.

Mrs. Simmons was preceded in death by her parents, Edward V. Wilson and "Axie" R. Wilson; her husband; two sisters, Mollie Howze and Ruth Baggett.

She is survived by her daughters and their spouses; Carl and Brenda Bearb, Finley and Becky Jones. She is also survived by four grandchildren; Erin and Lee Jones, Matthew and Andrew Bearb.

Her funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Phil Carpenter will officiate. Burial will follow in Creel Memorial Gardens in Bel, LA. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Monday from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM and continue on Tuesday from 8:00 AM until the start of the service.

The family would like to thank the following for the wonderful care given to Mrs. Simmons: Drs. Landry, Lechtenberg, and Foret; the staff of Villa Maria Retirement Center; and the staff of Stonebridge Special Care Unit.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Camp Pearl Ministries, P.O. Box 10, Reeves, LA 70658.