Nina Simmons, age 91, passed on Monday, December 2nd, 2019. Born in Elizabethtown, KY on August 14, 1928 to Hattie Mae and Hobert Lee Colyer, Nina was one of four children. The first 17 years of her life were spent in Elizabethtown until she met, dated and married her first husband, Donald Gordon Radcliff. Over the span of 20 years, Nina and Don traveled extensively as he was an Army officer stationed in various locations from Japan to Germany, and throughout the United States. In August 1965, her husband Major Donald Gordon Radcliff was killed in action in Vietnam. The family then settled in Columbus, GA where she was an active member of Gold Star Wives and other veteran programs. She later remarried in September 1972 to Captain Charles Simmons, and they began their 47 year journey with many adventures including t raveling through Central America to the Panama Canal before he left the Army and pursued a career in banking. Charles and Nina eventually settled in the Raleigh area in 2005, where Charles took a job at 1st American Builders. They later expanded their family to include their dog Mitzi, and their cat Angel.
Nina loved the outdoors and enjoyed creating her beautiful garden alongside her husband Charles. Her most admirable trait was her ability to put everyone at ease, and she never met a stranger. She had a quick wit and always brought a smile to your face.
She is now in heaven with her beloved parents Hattie Mae and Hobert Lee Colyer, her brother Thurman Colyer, her sister Eva Nell Bennett, and her first husband Donald Gordon Radcliff.
She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Charles Simmons, son- Connell Radcliff (Debbie), daughter- Cindy Mitchell (Ken), brother Gilbert Colyer (Alma), sister-in-law Helen Colyer, grandchildren- Corey Radcliff, Caroline Radcliff, Matthew Mitchell, Emily Trautman, (Michael) Kendall Gemmill (Billy) and Molly Mitchell as well as her great-grandchildren Hudson Trautman and Wyatt Trautman.
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