Rosa Simmons

Rosa Lee Crowe Simmons, age 89, passed away peacefully at Stanley Total Living Center on the afternoon of Sunday, March 9, 2025. Rosa was born on February 8, 1936, in Hollis, NC, the first of 8 children born to Annie Mae Crowe and William Grady Crowe, both deceased. She grew up during the latter half of the Great Depression on a sharecropper farm managed by her father, a quiet but hardworking man. Her mother was a kind woman who worked hard to manage the house and who loved to sing as she worked. Rosa also worked hard on the farm. She shared memories of picking cotton in the hot summer sun. Her father would plant watermelons in the field and if they ran across one while working they would stop to enjoy it. But they also had fun playing in the woods, splashing in the creek, or playing simple games such as jump rope, jump plank, or softball. Life was hard and material possessions were few, but it was a rewarding life.
Rosa had a number of siblings that she cared about and loved very much. She was survived by Thomas Earl Deviney (Shirley), Reverend William Oliver Crowe (Dolly), Mary Ann Blackwell, Bobby Dean Crowe (Diane), and Nina Mae Gettys (Maynard). She was preceded in death by David Clyde Melton (her biological father who she never met), Buford Crowe (brother), Nellie Melton (sister), Emma Irene Black (sister), and Sara Revonda Carswell (sister). They all had many wonderful reunions and family dinners which Rosa cherished.
At age 12 Rosa's Mother passed away from stomach cancer. During her mother's illness, a nurse came to take care of her. Rosa was so impressed by her caring ways that she made it her life ambition to become a nurse herself. Rosa was taken to live with her grandparents where she worked hard cooking, cleaning, and taking care of animals on their farm. She lived with them until her grandmother passed away and then went to live with her aunt and uncle, where she stayed briefly until she graduated high school. At 17 she moved into a boarding house and began supporting herself by working at Pharr Yarn Mills in McAdenville, NC.
While working there, Rosa attended Evan's Business College in Gastonia. After graduating she started work at First Baptist Church in Gastonia as Financial Secretary. During this time she was dating James Reba Simmons who she would eventually marry. They met on a blind date when Rosa was 16. They dated on and off until Jim proposed on Christmas Day in 1955. They were married August 22, 1956. Rosa began work in the Gaston County School system in 1968 as a secretary first at Mt. Holly Jr High School and then at East Gaston High School until 1977.
In 1979 Rosa fulfilled her lifelong dream by graduating as President of her class from Gaston College with an Associates Degree in Nursing. She began work at Gaston Memorial Hospital, now Caromont Regional Medical Center, where she worked in the ER until the year 2000. Rosa loved being a nurse and helping others feel better. After retirement she continued to serve others through volunteer work with various organizations and by assisting elderly friends and neighbors.
Along the way Jim and Rosa were blessed with 3 children; Charlotte Yuvonda Simmons, James Michael Simmons (Jodi), and David Garrison Simmons (Jill). Rosa's main goals for her children were to raise them in a Christian household, to provide a good education, and to try her best to give her children the things she was unable to have as a child. She did her best to fulfill each of these goals. Over the following years Rosa was blessed with 8 grandchildren; Niki Stone, Amy Stone (Jonathan), Laura Stone, Mary Call, Jennifer Stone (Clay), Danielle Tucker (Jeffrey), James Michael Simmons II (Shannon), Holly LeAnn Simmons, and Eric Garrison Simmons. They also were blessed with 5 great-grandchildren; Tyr Stone, Lor Call (Zane), Lillian Call, Lydia Call, and Jasper Tucker. After God, family was Rosa's greatest love. She was there through good and bad, attended graduations, trips to hospitals, giving emotional support, encouragement, advice, and providing many fun vacations and other experiences. She kept up with and fondly talked about every one of them until the last. Her greatest hope was that everyone would accept Christ and eventually join her in the peace of everlasting life that God has promised.
Rosa enjoyed many activities and hobbies through the years including softball, skating, gardening, sewing, hiking, camping, reading, and Church activities. She made many trips across the United States with family and friends enjoying the beauty of this wonderful country. She also enjoyed her pets over the years including several dogs, many cats, a squirrel, a bird, rabbits, and chickens.
Jim and Rosa enjoyed each other's company for 63 years until Jim passed away at the age of 91 with heart complications. Rosa lived for almost 6 more years enjoying friends and family and continuing to provide support to her family until she was unable. She was loved by many and touched many with her caring ways. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. She will be missed for her love and for the untold store of memories that she carried with her. She was an incredible, inspirational woman.
Services will be held at Charlotte Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Sharon SDA Church. Condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.woodlawnfuneral.org. Woodlawn Funeral Home of Mount Holly is caring for the Simmons family.
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