Ninety- six years ago on August 2, 1923, God allowed the gift of life to

be born to my mother Catherine (Pearson) Simmons and my father

Reverend Ambrose Simmons. I was the first of seven children nurtured

by my loving mother, who I adored. In the past few months, I experienced

some medical challenges that led God to call me home. I was reluctant to

leave my love ones, however, I must tell you it was time for me to rest in

my savior's arms. On Thursday morning, October 31,2019 I transitioned

to my final resting place to be with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I was born in Summerton, South Carolina in Clarendon County where I

attended public school. As a young teen, I worked with my father on our

family farm. The days were long and sometimes hard but I know working

with my father taught me life lessons that helped me throughout my entire

life. As a youth, I enjoyed spending time with my family, especially my

cousins Jessie and Ferdinand. We loved playing baseball; perhaps that's

why it has always been my favorite sport.

When I was 29 years old I married the love of my life Bertha (Simon).

We met in our hometown of Sumter, SC and a few years later in 1952 we

got married in Baltimore, Maryland. Moving north afforded me the

opportunity to get a job at Bethlehem Steel Company in Sparrows Point,

Maryland. I worked at the steel mill as a Pitman for 34 years before retiring

in 1986. Bethlehem Steel was one of the only employers in my time to

employ and pay black men a decent wage in the 1950's. There were

definitely challenges at work that many of us faced during my time, like

not having the same amenities or advancement opportunities as our white

co-workers. One of my proudest moments was being a shop steward and

petitioning the company to build a break room shed on behalf of my fellow

black co-workers. Honestly, I did not think it would happen but to my

surprise it did. Having a space of our own made work a more pleasant

atmosphere. This brings me to another thing that makes me proud, the

friendships I established with some of the best men a man could ever have

known. Quite frankly, we all left "The Point" (that is what we called it)

at different times but we never left each other. My friends VL (Bug),

Brooks, Stubbs,Walker and Lockman just to name a few were like brothers

to me and I cherished those friendships with some them for over 50 years.