Betty Ruth (Wilson) Simmons

Mrs. Betty Ruth Wilson Simmons, age 91, of Hazlehurst, passed away on Thursday, August 31, 2023, 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 various 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 the 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, and her husband, the late Verlon Simmons. Additionally, a sister, Irene Wilson Gramling, a son, John Gary Stankowitz, and a grandson, Joshua Britt Stankowitz, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Simmons is survived by her husband, Ander Henderson of Kingsland, Georgia, by her daughters, Marsha Stankowitz of Hazlehurst, and Veronda Simmons Carroll (Greg) of

Thomasville, and by a son, James T. Stankowitz, Jr. (Barbara), of Hazlehurst; eighteen 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, and 14 great, great grandchildren, as well as several nieces

and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, September 3, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. and services will be held Sunday, September 3, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Wainwright-Parlor Funeral Home. Internment

will be at Palms Memorial Gardens in Hazlehurst. 

Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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