Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameShirley Matilda SIMMONS 
3, O.E. Simmons, Jr.,3, Martha “Frances” Simmons,470, Shirley Matilda Simmons Toadvine,404, Shirley Matilda Simmons-Female-24 May 1935 – 10 December 2020- •-GNX4-S2K
3, O.E. Simmons, Jr.,3, Martha “Frances” Simmons,470, Shirley Matilda Simmons Toadvine,404, Shirley Matilda Simmons-Female-24 May 1935 – 10 December 2020- •-GNX4-S2KBirthMay 24, 1935, Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina470, Shirley Matilda Simmons Toadvine
DeathDec 10, 2020470, Shirley Matilda Simmons Toadvine
BurialForest Lawn Memorial Park, 3227 Dixie Highway, Erlanger, Kenton County, Kentucky470, Shirley Matilda Simmons Toadvine
FatherOtis Elisha SIMMONS Sr. (1904-1991)
MotherBessie Sarah TATE (1904-1983)
Spouses
1George Kendall TOADVINE 3, O.E. Simmons, Jr.,470, Shirley Matilda Simmons Toadvine-Obituary,470, George Kendall Toadvine
3, O.E. Simmons, Jr.,470, Shirley Matilda Simmons Toadvine-Obituary,470, George Kendall ToadvineBirthJan 16, 1936, Sylvandell, Harrison County, Kentucky470, George Kendall Toadvine
DeathJan 24, 2016470, George Kendall Toadvine
BurialForest Lawn Memorial Park, 3227 Dixie Highway, Erlanger, Kenton County, Kentucky470, George Kendall Toadvine
MarriageAug 17, 1957, Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina404, Shirley Matilda Simmons-Female-24 May 1935 – 10 December 2020- •-GNX4-S2K
Obituary Online notes for Shirley Matilda SIMMONS
Shirley Matilda Simmons Toadvine departed this earthly life and was welcomed into the arms of her Lord Jesus Christ on December 10, 2020.
Shirley is remembered as a woman of deep faith, enduring kindness, and strong determination. She was a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Shirley was born in Burlington, North Carolina on May 24, 1935. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Kendall Toadvine (originally of Harrison County, Kentucky), after 58 years of devoted marriage.
Also preceding Shirley in death were her parents, Otis Elisha and Bessie (Tate) Simmons, Sr.; her brother Otis Elisha Simmons, Jr,; and her sisters Martha Frances Simmons and Betty (Simmons) Culberson. Shirley’s childhood was spent working on the family farm, learning carpentry skills from her father, excelling at school, and assisting in all the activities of maintaining a household with her parents, three brothers, three sisters, and extended family members.
Shirley was the class valedictorian and a 1953 graduate of Walter Williams High School in Burlington, North Carolina; a 1957 summa cum laude graduate of Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky; and a 1961 gradaute of the University of Cincinnati with a Master’s Degree in Education. Additionally, she completed post-graduate studies in Christian missions at Scarritt College in Nashville, Tennessee, and Spanish language studies at the Instituto Americano in San Jose, Costa Rica. Shirley and George served for four years with the Methodist Board of Missions as teachers at the Instituto Americano is Cochabamba, Bolivia, and shared a thirty-five year career as educators with the Boone County (Kentucky) School System where Shirley predominantly taught upper level Algebra at Boone County High School. Shirley’s students consistently remember her as “one of the best ever,” sincerely caring for her students while pushing them to achieve excellence. Shirley summed up her philosophy of teaching as “Everyone is a teacher, everyone is a learner.” Shirley and George together received the Florence Rotary Club “Citizen of the Year Award” in 2004. Shirley also received the “Golden Apple Achievement Award” from Ashland, Inc. in 1998, and the “Most Respected Teacher of the Year Award” from the Northern Kentucky DeMolay Chapter in 1996. Shirley’s priority was serving God. She served actively across five decades at Florence United Methodist Church in roles including Chair of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, Coordinator of Children’s Ministries, Chair of the Prayer Ministry Team, Chair of the Worship Committee, Sunday School Treasurer, Sunday School teacher, officer of various women’s groups, and soprano in the church choir. Shirley thoroughly enjoyed hosting many gathering of friends and family in her home. After their retirement from Boone County Schools, Shirley and George were faithful ministers to others and regularly visited in hospitals and nursing homes, and with families in their times of need. 470, Shirley Matilda Simmons Toadvine
Shirley is remembered as a woman of deep faith, enduring kindness, and strong determination. She was a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Shirley was born in Burlington, North Carolina on May 24, 1935. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Kendall Toadvine (originally of Harrison County, Kentucky), after 58 years of devoted marriage.
Also preceding Shirley in death were her parents, Otis Elisha and Bessie (Tate) Simmons, Sr.; her brother Otis Elisha Simmons, Jr,; and her sisters Martha Frances Simmons and Betty (Simmons) Culberson. Shirley’s childhood was spent working on the family farm, learning carpentry skills from her father, excelling at school, and assisting in all the activities of maintaining a household with her parents, three brothers, three sisters, and extended family members.
Shirley was the class valedictorian and a 1953 graduate of Walter Williams High School in Burlington, North Carolina; a 1957 summa cum laude graduate of Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky; and a 1961 gradaute of the University of Cincinnati with a Master’s Degree in Education. Additionally, she completed post-graduate studies in Christian missions at Scarritt College in Nashville, Tennessee, and Spanish language studies at the Instituto Americano in San Jose, Costa Rica. Shirley and George served for four years with the Methodist Board of Missions as teachers at the Instituto Americano is Cochabamba, Bolivia, and shared a thirty-five year career as educators with the Boone County (Kentucky) School System where Shirley predominantly taught upper level Algebra at Boone County High School. Shirley’s students consistently remember her as “one of the best ever,” sincerely caring for her students while pushing them to achieve excellence. Shirley summed up her philosophy of teaching as “Everyone is a teacher, everyone is a learner.” Shirley and George together received the Florence Rotary Club “Citizen of the Year Award” in 2004. Shirley also received the “Golden Apple Achievement Award” from Ashland, Inc. in 1998, and the “Most Respected Teacher of the Year Award” from the Northern Kentucky DeMolay Chapter in 1996. Shirley’s priority was serving God. She served actively across five decades at Florence United Methodist Church in roles including Chair of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, Coordinator of Children’s Ministries, Chair of the Prayer Ministry Team, Chair of the Worship Committee, Sunday School Treasurer, Sunday School teacher, officer of various women’s groups, and soprano in the church choir. Shirley thoroughly enjoyed hosting many gathering of friends and family in her home. After their retirement from Boone County Schools, Shirley and George were faithful ministers to others and regularly visited in hospitals and nursing homes, and with families in their times of need. 470, Shirley Matilda Simmons Toadvine