Catherine Louise Simmons

Catherine Simmons was born, Catherine Louise Duhart on August 23, 1930. She was one of ten children born to the union of Anne Mae (Webb) and Ruel C. Duhart.

Catherine graduated from Ballard High School in 1949. She loved math and hoped to follow her mother’s footsteps to become a teacher. Catherine’s mother passed when she was just entering high school and she had to help raise four of her younger siblings. Family was always important to her. After her mother’s death she seamlessly stepped into the role of protector and mother hen to her younger siblings. One story her younger brother, Harold, likes to tell is when Catherine came home from school and saw he and Bart sitting with a shot gun across their lap. Catherine asked what he was going to do with the gun? His response: he was going to shoot the older girl who beat him up. Catherine, to defuse the situation, said no let me beat her up. She took her role as a big sister very seriously!

Upon graduation, Catherine married Joe Simmons Jr. and moved to Akron, Ohio. She worked for Akron Towel Supply, General Tire. She retired from B.F. Goodrich as a security guard.

Although she did not become a teacher her children were her glory. She always said her math skills were passed on to her children and grandchildren.

One of her fondest memories was, when Bart traveled to Akron from Georgia with his family. There were about 15 family members in one minivan. We had a picnic at Wingfoot Lake Park, and there was a volleyball competition between the North and the South. Catherine was very competitive and always bragged about her volleyball and basketball skills. She also enjoyed bowling, being a member of the Red Hat Society and most of all being a church mother and member of the Mothers Board at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, Ruel and Anne Mae Duhart; brothers, James (Doris), William (Josie), Zary, Bartholomew (Clara), Fredrick, twins, Katie and Kellum Duhart; son-in-law Jesse Minor and granddaughter Tiffany Minor.

Her memory will be forever cherished by her children Sandra Minor, Mechelle (Willie Reynolds) Miller, Joe (Otelia) Simmons III, David Simmons and Jan (Robert) Fowler and special daughter, Sandra Palmer; seven grandchildren Shanise Owens, Nikki Thompson, Sean Minor, Elaine Simmons, Mychal Fowler and Jessica Fowler; six Great grandchildren Kayden Fowler, McKenzee Owens, Jordan Simmons, Jalen Thompson, Madelyn Fowler, Azura Fowler; Her brother, Harold (Margaret) Duhart, Durham, North Carolina and sister, Eleanor Duhart Griggs, Akron Ohio, sister-in-law Dorothy Duhart, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Home going service will be held Friday, January 12, 2024 at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Akron, Ohio, 1241 Grant Street 44301. Visiting hours will be 11:00 A.M. funeral service at 12:00 P.M. Officiating Pastor Kenneth McGraw Sr. and Eulogist Reverend Curtis Minter.

Condolences can be sent to 2401 Handforth Street, Uniontown, Ohio 44685. Live streaming will be available on Shiloh Baptist Church, Akron, Ohio.