Bernice Simmons

Bernice Simmons known to many as Mickey was born October 28, 1933, in Queens New York to the late Isabella (Burnette) Naylor and the late James Naylor. After a long battle with dementia she passed away at the age of 83 on February 21, 2017, in Lauderhill Florida. Bernice predeceased her first husband John Aiken Jr. whom they had one child Jeannette L. Aiken. Bernice also predeceased her second husband Albert Alvin Simmons.

Bernice also predeceased her siblings Lula P Simpson, Joseph Patrick and James Naylor Jr. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her daughter Jeannette L. (Aiken) Williams of Lauderhill, FL granddaughter Nicolle Michelle Williams-Fontanez of Palm Bay, FL, (David Fontanez), grandson Adam Giovanni Aiken of Davie, FL and grandson DeVon Xavier Ferguson of Palm Bay, FL as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Bernice had a generous spirit, a very caring person, always welcoming people into her home and loved cooking and entertaining them. In her early years she fostered two young girls and talked about how it hurt her heart when the girls had to go back to their mother. She was always cooking and took those cooking skills to take over her brother’s Joseph ‘Jim Dick’s” restaurant along with her daughter Jeannette “Cookie”. The succession of the restaurant allowed the four sibling’s children grandchildren and many extended family and close family friends a place to work and congregate as well as serve the community with real good southern food.

After closing the restaurant due to illness Bernice moved further north into Westchester where she started a new chapter of her life at Springvale – a place for seniors. There she did what she was happiest at in taking care of people, gardening and cooking. She worked into her 60’s and 70’not because she had to but because she wanted to and felt the need to properly take care of the elderly. She was also the President of Springvale Senior Citizens Club and the Woman’s Club and was tasked with organizing Springvale’s game events onsite and offsite (Mohegan Sun and Atlantic City).

With all of the event planning, taking care of the gardens at Springvale she also took care of her only surviving sibling James Naylor. After his passing she slowed down with all of her activities and was unable to care for herself. Her last couple of years she lived in Florida surrounded by her daughter and grandchildren and close family member as she always wanted as she would always say “Family comes FIRST!!”

GRANDMA WE WILL ALWAYS CARRY YOUR MEMORY IN OUR HEARTS.

Funeral services will be held March 11, 2017 at 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Fountainhead Memorial Park and Funeral Home

7303 Babcock Street, SE Palm Bay FL, 32909.