Sherrill Faye Simmons

Sherrill Faye “That’s Me”

God saw that I was getting tired, and an earthly cure was not to be, so he put his arms around me, and whispered, “come to me”.

On March 13, 2023, in the comfort of her home, Sherrill Faye Simmons (Babe, as she was affectionately known to family and friends) departed this earth to be with the Lord in Heaven.

Sherrill was born January 6, 1956, to the late Rezella Carson and Albert Robinson, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Both parents preceded her in death. In 1974, she met and married the late Jessie Cal Simmons; the marriage ended in divorce. Babe attended the public schools of Okaloosa County and Washington, D.C.

She was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Cheyenne Velez; sister, Josie Ann Hartley; brother, Lamar Porter-Robinson and a special friend, Bobby Isabell. In the early 1990’s, Babe embraced Islam as her faith choice and began to study The Holy Quaran.

After forty-one years of working for the Fort Walton Beach healthcare system, as a dietary aid and cook, Babe retired due to her failing health. She was recognized many times over the years for her dedicated service and goodwill towards others. She retired from The Fort Walton Beach Rehabilitation Center in 2019.

Babe possessed a quiet, loving spirit and spent most of her life showering her family, especially her children and grandchildren with unconditional love that no words can express. She was a true protector. In her spare time, she loved taking care of her home (always deep cleaning) watching movies, shopping at thrift stores and yes, sleeping.

Babe leaves to cherish love and precious memories, first and foremost, her three surviving children, Amin (Manson) Simmons, Gabi Simmons and Aisha Simmons, all of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; seven caring and devoted step-children: Jessie Simmons, Marcus Simmons, Andre Simmons, Michael Jenkins, Tracy Blackhsheur, and John Jenkins of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and Crystal Simmons of Houston, Texas; one daughter-in-law, Melanie Simmons; a special son-in-law, Jose Velez of Beaumont, Texas and one very special friend, Aletha Faye Snow. Thank you for the love and care that you gave to her over the years.

She also leaves five grandsons, Queonte Gray, Jose Velez, Jr., Ashanti Velez, Reggie Fain and Amin (Man Man) Simmons, Jr.; two granddaughters, Keundra Hagans (Tyrell) and Amina Simmons; one great-granddaughter, Ashanti Hagans; two great-grandsons, Kedir Washington, and Jose Velez, III; two sisters and one maternal aunt, Jewel Leach, Vician Smith, and Florine Jenkins; one maternal uncle, Ernest Cooley of Detroit, Michigan; eight nieces and nephews, Suncura (Londa) Cobbs, Nekita (Nink) Robinson, Shelanda Duncan, Tyrone Mclain, Billy Smith, Marcus (Jack) Findley, Altrise (Drum) Taylor and David Roberts; as well as thirteen Grand nieces and nephews and twenty great-grand nieces and nephews. Babe also leaves to cherish her memories, The Robinson Family of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, the Simmons family of Fort Walton Beach, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia and a host of many other relatives and friends. 

Visitation will be Saturday, March 25 from 11:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M., at Davis-Watkins Funeral Home on Racetrack Road in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Funeral services will begin immediately afterwards at 12:00 noon.  
 

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