Dr. Joseph Simmons was born in Texas August 26, 1929 the 7th of 9 children. He attended school in DeRidder, Louisiana and played on the high school basketball team that won the state championship. He attended Grambling University graduating in 1952 with a BS degree in Social Science and Education. He pledged with the Gamma Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi in May of 1951. At the age of 24 Joseph began his career as an educator in Kinder, Louisiana. He was unable to complete his first year because he was drafted into the US Army in May, 1953. He served two years as an instructor of Military Intelligence and Justice. He pursued graduate study at Grambling, the University of Washington and at USC and earned a master's degree from Pepperdine. During this period he married Lorraine McRoyal and a daughter Rhonda was born. He continued his studies as an administrative intern at Fullerton. In 1980 he proudly completed a Ph.d program in Leadership and Human Behavior at U.S. International University. For almost 30 years he worked in the Enterprise and Compton areas as a teacher, specialist, coordinator, principal and director. At the end of his career he served as Director of Education at Crenshaw Christian Center. An active member of numerous professional organizations he continued participation in ACSA (California School Administrators) , the Long Beach branch of the NAACP and a Grambling Alumni group after retirement. Joseph's favorite past time was golf. He loved playing golf with his wife and friends and discussing the game with his daughter. He loved to read and was especially intrigued by mysteries. He also loved to listen to all kinds of music, especially country. Attending the grandchildren's school events and taking them on trips gave him great joy. Joseph was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1996 and lived with the progression of the disease for some 18 years without complaint. On November 29, 2014 he answered God's call and departed this life. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Patricia, daughter Rhonda, grand children Kristen, David, LaShaunda, DaJuan, and great-grandchildren Aiden and Averi, sister Oralie, brothers Simeon and Earl, brother-in-laws Bruce (Edda) and Dale, and many, many nieces and nephews. Memorial services for Dr. Simmons will be held at Crenshaw Christian Center on Tuesday, December 9th at 11:00 AM. A private burial service will be held at Riverside Cemetery at a future date.
Arrangements under the direction of Luyben-Dilday Mortuary, Long Beach, CA.
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