Elneita Smith Simmons, 85, of Tifton went home to be with her Lord and Savior Thursday, October 31, 2019, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Her celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 5, 2019 in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with Rev. Rodney Chappell and Bishop Joe Crews officiating, and Barry Cook as speaker. Mrs. Simmons will be laid to rest at Oakridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday, November 4, 2019 from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson.
Jonathan Greer, Adam Simmons, Joseph Blackwell, Jason MacDonald, Jody Snow, Terry Hilton, and John Simmons will serve as pallbearers. Kenny Davis will be serving as an honorary pallbearer.
Born October 22, 1934 in Ashburn, Mrs. Simmons is the daughter of the late John Franklin Smith and Dollie Hood Smith. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Franklin B. Simmons; and one brother, Charlie Smith. Before retiring, she was co-owner of Tiftarea Stone Yard and also a sales associate at Toyland and Music Store in downtown Tifton. Mrs. Simmons has been a devoted servant of God for over 70 years. She witnessed and proclaimed the love of Jesus to everyone she would meet. Her faithfulness and fervent prayers have touched more lives than she could ever imagine. Her amazingly strong, abundant faith in God brought her through every life struggle she faced. She loved her old-time gospel music, and watching Christian television. If you didn’t find her in her kitchen planning or preparing family dinners or baking her many goodies for the holidays, you could always find her sitting at the kitchen table reading and studying the Word of God.
Mrs. Simmons is survived by one son, Ricky Simmons of Tifton; two daughters and sons in law, Felicia and Benny Parker, Cindy and Fate Miller, all of Tifton; two sisters, Oreita Chappell and Allene Davis of Tifton; her grandchildren and their spouses, Jennifer and Jason MacDonald, Jonathan and Natalie Greer, Adam and Hannah Simmons, Shaun and Christy Parker, and Kari Parker; her three great-grandchildren, Rachel Hughes, Joseph Blackwell, and Adalyn Simmons.