April 02, 19 03

Willis Edward Simmons
Mary DeLillian Gates Simmons (Lily)

I believe this is their wedding portrait, therefore the date would be 1903.

Willis was a very very smart man who never went to school a day of his life.  But he was very much a self educated man.  His reading skills, math skills, problem solving and reasoning was as good as any college graduate’s.  He had to run away from home when he was nine years old, his stepfather, Mr. Jackson was a very mean man. Willis became a cotton farmer, and a dairy farmer.  Willis was a very compassionate man with a delightful sense of humor.  He loved to play dominoes.

Lily was a very quite person who reared seven good children after losing her first two babies at birth.  She had a real talent at crochet but never had proper supplies to do really fine work.  So much of her work was a mismash of yarns and colors. As a young girl Wanda would spend many summers with Willis & Lily.  Lily would sit for hours and let Wanda brush her snow  white hair.

Willis’ brother, Andrew married Lily’s sister, Crissie.

The most important thing to tell you about these two people is they were Christians who loved God very much, and raised all their children to be active Christians. If they were here today they would love you very much also.