Janie Mae Livingston Simons

Janie Simons, 95, formerly of Heidelberg, died Sunday, December 18, 2011. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at Memory Chapel with burial to follow at Philadelphia Methodist Church Cemetery in Jasper County. Rev. Mark Covington and Rev. P. J. Weeks will officiate. Mrs. Simons was born on her father’s farm outside of Heidelberg, MS on September 23, 1916 to Alfred James Livingston and Lillie Viola Brown Livingston. As a child she attended Philadelphia Methodist Church of Heidelberg while in Pascagoula she attended Fairview Baptist Church and she was a member of Magnolia Baptist Church in Laurel. During the war she was one of the first female employees in shipyard in Mobile, AL. Her husband worked in construction before and after World War II and they finally settled in Pascagoula to make a home for 50 plus years where he worked in the shipyard and she supplemented their income working in Caver’s Drug Store. After son Joseph’s death in 2003 she moved to Laurel to live near and be cared for by son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Geraldine Lightsey. Janie will be best remembered for her hard work and caring for family and neighbors. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Stafford Livingston, Otis Livingston and Reuben Livingston; three sisters who died young; sister-in-law, Lois Livingston; first husband, Leon Lightsey, second husband of 43 years, Fred Oliver Simons who preceded her in 1979; son, Joseph C. Simons and wife Jo Elizabeth Simons and one grandchild, Alfred Edward Lightsey, Jr. Survivors include one sister, Grace Viola Dowling of Laurel; two sisters-in-law, Ila Livingston of Sumrall and Ethel Livingston of Bay Springs; children, Alfred Edward Lightsey and wife Geraldine of Laurel, Dr. Fred Oliver Simons, Jr. and wife Kathleen of Tallahassee, FL and Bobbie Simons Hinman and husband George Hinman of Brandon; seven grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. Pallbearers will be Todd Hinman, Jerry Vega, Jerrod Vega, Preston Hinman, Freddie Leggett and Dennis Herrington. Honorary Pallbearers will be George Collins, Raymon Busby, Willard Walker, Jeff Gardner and Jimmy Satcher. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Philadelphia Methodist Church or to the Church Cemetery Fund, c/o David Livingston, 2620 N. Pine Street, Heidelberg, MS 39439. Visitation will be held beginning at 12:30 pm Wednesday prior to the service. Memory Chapel of Laurel is in charge of the arrangements.

Janie Mae Livingston Simons

September 23, 1916 - December 18, 2011