Mrs. Betty Ruth Wilson Simmons, 91

Mrs. Betty Ruth Wilson Simmons, 91, of Hazlehurst, passed away Aug. 31 after an extended illness.
Mrs. Simmons was a homemaker and owner/director of Jack and Jill Kindergarten from the mid-1960s until the late 1990s, wherein she taught countless Jeff Davis County children. If a child ever passed through her doors, they were always considered one of her children and she cherished those relationships. Additionally, Mrs. Simmons enjoyed working in her yard and for years had beautiful roses and other flowers and fruit trees. She took great joy in cutting her lawn and caring for her yard well into her late 80s. She was a quilter and made quilts for children and grandchildren and she made wonderful sourdough and other breads. An active member of the community, she volunteered with the American Cancer Society and worked to bring the first Relay to Life to the community years ago. In her younger years, she was an active member and past president of Business and Professional Women’s Club, volunteer with the local Friends of the Library and served on the Board of Satilla Regional Library. She enjoyed working with children and teens and tirelessly served in the children’s and youth organizations, as well as the ladies’ auxiliary, or Relief Society, at her local church congregation as a teacher and auxiliary president many times throughout the years. Not only did she serve on a local level but also in district and regional levels. The Georgia Preschool Association presented her the Lifetime Achievement Award in Education for the publication of several educational texts and for her service in pre-school and kindergarten education in a rural area.
Mrs. Simmons was preceded in death by her parents, Thelma Wooten Wilson and John Wilson of the Snipesville community, her husband, Verlon Simmons, sister, Irene Wilson Gramling, son, John Gary Stankowitz, anda grandson, Joshua Britt Stankowitz.
Mrs. Simmons is survived by her husband, Ander Henderson of Kingsland; daughters, Marsha Stankowitz of Hazlehurst, and Veronda Simmons Carroll (Greg) of Thomasville; son, James T. Stankowitz Jr. (Barbara), of Hazlehurst; grandchildren: Media Music (Jr), Lynn Sellers, Chad Arnold, James T. Stankowitz III (Amanda), Heather Hunter (Chuck), Shae Howe (Darin), Erin Coyne, Matt Stankowitz, Jason Stankowitz (Angela), Katie Gillis, Gerald Newman, Carol Grady, Haley Lam (Kenneth), Brent Carroll, Blake Carroll, Matthew Carroll, Hannah LeBlanc (Aaron), and Rebecca Keyton (Harrison); 27 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Sept. 3 in the chapel of Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home with Geri Advant and Dr. Timothy Fussell officiating. Mrs. Jeanette Ban gave the Benediction. Interment followed in Palms Memorial Garden.
Honorary pallbearers were Jeanette Ban, Karen Fields, Kathy Smith, Daniel McCall, Luke McCall, Josh McLendon and Barbara Hester.
Active pallbearers were James Stankowitz III, Cash Cox, Darin Howe, Matt Stankowitz, Jason Stankowitz, and Brock Music.
Music was rendered by Jessica Moore, Katie Gillis and the congregation.
Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home was in charge.