Flossie Simmons Obituary

Flossie J. Simmons

Feb 2, 1937 - Jul 28, 2024

Sandusky

Flossie J. (Boyd) Simmons, 87, passed peacefully from this life Sunday, July 28, 2024, at home while surrounded by family.

She was born Feb. 2, 1937, in Franklin County, Virginia, the seventh child of Samuel Irvin Boyd and Frankie Elizabeth Martin Boyd. Sam and Elizabeth moved to Norwalk when Flossie was seven years old. She attended Norwalk City Schools and in high school, played clarinet for the marching band. Flossie met and married Wadell Wm. Simmons and moved to Sandusky and they had four children. She modeled persistence, determination, and the importance of education for her children when she continued her own education.

Over the years, Flossie worked for a number of companies including Hills, PhotoJournal Press, Sears, and Meijer. She retired from Certain-Teed where, because she had furthered her education, became the first African-American to work in the office. While there, she also assisted other African-Americans obtain employment with the company. Through her work with the NAACP, she assisted additional African-Americans obtain employment with local companies that, at the time, employed few, if any, African-Americans.

Flossie was an active member of St. Stephen AME Church, functioning as Usher, Steward, Trustee Helper, Assistant Treasurer, and "other duties as assigned." Her strawberry pies, hummingbird cakes, and pineapple coconut cakes became staples at the church's bake sales. Flossie so loved baking that she worked for a time as a professional cake decorator. Her children and grandchildren cherished her rainbow birthday cakes. Additionally, Flossie loved watching Netflix, especially Turkish, Korean, and Spanish language telenovellas. The longer, the better. She also enjoyed going to the casino, doing word searches, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Her love of reading and desire to stay abreast of local and national news, particularly political, spread by osmosis into the grandchildren spending time with her.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Katherine Annette of Sandusky and Tanya of Elyria; son, Wadell Jr. (Michelle) of Toledo; brother, Floyd Boyd of Millersburg; daughters-in-law, Yvette Henson of Columbus, Priscilla Smith of Atlanta, Georgia, and Patricia Simmons of Niles; grandsons, "First Grandson" Kenneth D. Simmons of Columbus, Vincent Simmons of Sandusky, Thirkee Simmons of Berlin Heights, Darrian Scott of Toledo, Wadell III of Akron, and Samuel Simmons of Toledo; granddaughters, Nia Davis of Cleveland, Nicole Davis of Parma, Narisha Davis of Cuyahoga Falls, Myriah McCoy of San Francisco, Lyric Johnson of Port Clinton, Alexis Hernandez of Norwalk, Juleah Palmison of Huron, Kamaria Hernandez of Huston, Texas, and Kendra Johnson of Sandusky; 10 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Flossie was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Elizabeth; son, Kenneth I. Simmons; siblings, Ellen Smith, Melvin Boyd, Edward Boyd, Viola Hancock, Eva Simpson, Florene Harkness, James Boyd, Loretha McKinney, and Minnie Robinson; granddaughter, Mya Hernandez; ex-husband, Wadell Wm. Simmons Sr.; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, "the Betties," Betty Simmons and Betty McKind.

Visitation will be 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, until the time of Flossie's funeral at 12 p.m. at Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery.

Condolences may be shared online at toftfuneralhome.com.