Elizabeth Simmons

On October 18, 2023, Elizabeth Luckett Simmons passed away peacefully at age 94. She was born on May 11, 1929, to Mamie Fewell (“Beauty”)Luckett and Joseph Hugh Luckett in Jackson, MS. She was a life-long resident of Jackson, attending Power Elementary, Bailey Junior High and graduating from Central High School. She attended MUW and graduated from the University of Mississippi with a BA in History and a teacher’s license. While at Ole Miss, she was a member of Chi Omega sorority where she made many lasting friendships.

Known to friends and family affectionately as P’nut, she enjoyed an active social and civic life. Elizabeth was a member of the First Presbyterian Church her entire life, where she loved teaching four- and five-year-olds in Sunday school. She had a wonderful interest in other people and maintained friendships for life.

In May 1953, she married Navy Ensign Bill Lee Flostrom. Sadly, in August 1953, while undergoing pilot training in Pensacola, FL, he was killed in a mid-air collision. Their daughter Lee was born the next April.

In June 1955 Elizabeth married Delmar Leon (“Billy”) Simmons, Jr. (1927-2014). In the following years, she, Billy, and Lee welcomed Janie, Anne and Bill, completing their family. She loved her children and participated in all their lives, actively supporting First Presbyterian Church Day School, Jackson Preparatory School, and Ole Miss.

Elizabeth was a member of the Junior League of Jackson, the Research Club, and enjoyed the many various luncheon, garden, and literary clubs of her era. She volunteered in many ways to help the unfortunate and was selected as a Life Member of the Women of the Church. Elizabeth also enjoyed a late career in education, teaching history and civics at the Education Center in Jackson.

After raising their family, Elizabeth and Billy moved to Lake Cavalier, and though it seemed “soooo far away” from Jackson, soon it was home, and she was once again busily organizing gatherings of friends, family, and her new neighbors. She especially enjoyed having her grandchildren visit and was always eager to hear their stories. We will never forget her engaging laugh and sense of humor, and most of all her abiding faith in and love for the Lord. Lastly, Elizabeth’s example of love and strength through the challenging times in life was one of the many gifts she left her children.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husbands, Bill Lee Flostrom and D.L. (“Billy”) Simmons Jr., her parents Mamie Fewell Luckett and Joseph Hugh Luckett, and her beloved brother Joseph Hugh Luckett Jr.

She is survived by her children, Lee Simmons (partner Frank Klaus), Janie Bowen (Mark), Anne Graeber (Ken), Bill Simmons (Karen); sister Mary Semmes Wright, sister-in-law, Nita Ivy, grandchildren Grace Rooney (Bill Haughney), Reed Bowen (Kiara), Mary Elizabeth Barker (Michael), Cooper Simmons (Clara Frances), De Graeber, Beth Graeber (fiancé John Kakales), and Katie Simmons, and great-grandchildren Tommy and Quinn Haughney. Nieces and nephews include Semmes Wright Calvert (Chris), Tre Luckett (Laura), Andy Luckett (Lacey Ann), Janet Ivy Roberts (David), Ted Ivy, Jerry Simmons (Carolyn), David Simmons, and Del Simmons (Stacy) as well as numerous great-nieces and nephews.

The family wants to thank Elizabeth’s dear friends, especially those she met at at The Orchard retirement home over the past ten years. Special thanks to Dr. Kathy Gregg and Dr. John Winscott for their wonderful care and the loving and compassionate caregivers from Homecare Hospice and at the Arbor. Elizabeth would want us to also remember her special friends and companions Helen Hudson and Angela Samuels.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, beginning at 11:00 am until the services begin at noon at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. Bill Wymond and Wiley Lowry will preside. Interment at Parkway Memorial Cemetery will follow.

Memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Day School, Jackson, MS, Jackson Preparatory School, Flowood, MS, or First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS.

Parkway Funeral Home serves the family.