By Heather Clower
The Parsons Advocate
On September 15, 2018, the community lost a beloved soul and a staple in the community, Cindy Simmons. Cindy was born in Massachusetts on April 4, 1948. She relocated from New England in the early 1990’s and quickly made Tucker County her home.
Cindy Simmons
She immediately set out on a mission to make the area a better place. Cindy was a super fan of the Grateful Dead, seeing them in concert over forty times, a diehard New England Patriots fan, as well as the WVU Mountaineers. Though Simmons has departed this earth, those who knew her are working hard to ensure her memory lives on.
“Generous, caring, smart, and a person that you won’t soon forget”, were words that came to April Miller’s mind about her former co-worker and dear friend. “She was dedicated to the people around her and she was always willing to go an extra one hundred miles for people in need; that to me best defines Cindy Simmons”, she added. Her dedication to the community and helping others could easily be witnessed with the many hats she wore. She was a former substitute teacher, the director of Bright Beginnings Child Care Center, as well as assisting with the Basic Education Program by tutoring adults and helping them get their GED, followed by Starting Points Coordinator from approximately 2005 until 2015. Simmons’ entire life was dedicated to caring for the children and helping their parents in our community. “I’ve known her for over twenty years and I realize more now that she’s gone than I did before that her unique spirit will stay with me forever”, Miller said.
The North Central Community Action along with the Tucker County Family Resource Network (FRN) are joining together to develop a new, local emergency resource fund for the youth in need in our county. The first project is to fulfill the void left by Sheetz; The Sheetz Family Christmas. The new project will be referred to as Cindy’s Giving Closet. A bridge drive was held to accept donations for this cause, and contributions can still be made at either founding organization in her honor. “Everyone she knew will miss her and those who didn’t get the opportunity to know her really don’t know what they’ve missed”, Miller stated.
A Celebration of Life is being held in Cindy Simmons’ honor on November 2, 2018 from 4 until 7 p.m. at Piccolo Paula’s Café. Warm the Children was one of Simmons’ favorite charity’s to volunteer for, so donations will be accepted to be made to Warm the Children in Cindy’s memory and honor. Monetary contributions can also be mailed to The Parsons Advocate, P.O. Box 345, Parsons, WV 26287, make checks payable to Warm the Children. Miller proudly stated, “We are here to share her story and to continue to share her kindness and honor her by serving others far into the future”.
