jessie burham simmons
1925-1984
Life Story
Early Life & Family Roots
Jessie Burham Simmons—whose name appears in historical records as Jessie Burham, Jessie Berham, Jessie B., and by the nickname “Monkey”—was born on March 25, either 1925 or 1926, in Scott County, Mississippi. He was the son of Archie Harvey Simmons, Sr. and Rena Belle Evans Simmons.
Although born in Scott County, Jessie spent his childhood in the Lawrence community of neighboring Newton County, where he grew up in one of the area’s larger farming families. He was raised alongside his siblings Willie Mae, Annie Mae, Robert Morris, Odessie, Grenada, Mattie Lou, Archie Harvey, Jr., Johnetta, Vera Mae, and Leverne, in a household built on hard work and close family ties.
Like many rural African American children during the 1930s, Jessie divided his time between school and agricultural work. He attended elementary school through the third grade while contributing as an unpaid worker on the family farm. By 1940, the Simmons family was living along Highway 80 in Newton County, reflecting the modest mobility common among farming families seeking opportunity within the region.
Coming of Age During World War II
On his eighteenth birthday, March 25, 1943, Jessie registered for the World War II draft in Lawrence.
His registration described him as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds, with a dark brown complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. Unlike many young men his age who were already employed full time, Jessie was listed as a student, while his mother, Rena Belle Simmons, was identified as his next of kin.
Although his draft registration survives, the records presently available do not document active military service.
Marriage and Life in Scott County
By 1950, Jessie had established his own household in Scott County, living near the New & County Line Old Highway 35.
He was married to Clevie Lee (also recorded as Curtis Lee or Clevie Bell) Simmons, and together they began building their life in the Forest area.
Census records show Jessie working in private industry, averaging forty-eight hours each week in employment connected with the local soft drink business. Over the years, public land records document his ownership of several small parcels of property along Highway 35, Homewood Road, and near Forest, suggesting that he invested steadily in local real estate.
“Monkey’s Place”
Throughout much of his adult life, Jessie became widely known throughout Scott County by the nickname “Monkey.”
He operated a local establishment known as “Monkey’s Place,” located just south of the Forest city limits along Highway 501 South. The business became well known within the community and appeared frequently in area newspapers during an era when Mississippi maintained some of the nation’s strictest liquor laws.
Because of the state’s prohibition policies and aggressive alcohol enforcement during the 1960s and 1970s, Jessie became involved in a series of highly publicized legal proceedings.
Among the documented events were:
- December 1961: Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Unit agents arrested Jessie during a raid near East Hillsboro that reportedly seized 668 gallons of illicit whiskey.
- January–April 1975: Chancery Court issued temporary and later permanent injunctions restricting activity at properties associated with both Monkey’s Place and another building connected with Jessie along Highway 35.
- June 1976: ABC enforcement officers charged him with possession of alcoholic beverages while legal proceedings concerning the injunctions remained pending.
- March 1979: Following dismissal of an appeal, Jessie was fined $200 for the unlawful sale of alcoholic beverages.
These newspaper accounts provide a glimpse into Mississippi’s long history of alcohol regulation during the prohibition era and document Jessie’s repeated interactions with state and federal authorities.
Final Years
Jessie Burham Simmons passed away in November 1984 at the age of fifty-eight or fifty-nine, depending upon his actual birth year.
Following his death, the Scott County Times published a heartfelt card of thanks from his family. His wife, Clevie Bell Simmons, along with Linda Hodges and Jean Jackson, expressed their gratitude for the many prayers, visits, cards, flowers, and acts of kindness shown during his illness and passing.
That message serves as a reminder that, beyond the newspaper headlines, Jessie was remembered first as a husband, father, relative, and friend whose family appreciated the support of their community during a difficult time.
Legacy
Jessie Burham “Monkey” Simmons lived a life deeply rooted in the communities of Newton and Scott Counties, where he spent nearly six decades.
From his childhood on the Simmons family farm to his years as a property owner and businessman near Forest, his life reflected the opportunities and challenges experienced by many African Americans in rural Mississippi during the mid-twentieth century. His story was shaped by hard work, family, entrepreneurship, and, at times, encounters with the legal system that became part of the public record.
Today, Jessie is remembered not only through census records and newspaper accounts but also through the generations of the Simmons family whose history remains intertwined with the communities where he lived. His biography reminds us that family history is most authentic when it embraces the full complexity of a person’s life, preserving both accomplishments and struggles with honesty, context, and respect.
Research Note
Historical records differ regarding Jessie’s birth year, with sources indicating either 1925 or 1926. Likewise, his middle name appears as both Burham and Berham in various documents. Until additional primary records are located, these discrepancies remain unresolved.
Resting Place
Unknown
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1920 and 1930 U.S. Census records identify Jessie Burham Simmons as the son of Archie Harvey Simmons and Rena Belle Evans Simmons. See 1920 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 4; and 1930 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 4.
- 1940 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, enumeration district 50-4, Archie Simmons household.
- U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942–1943, Jessie Burham Simmons, Local Board, Newton County, Mississippi; National Archives and Records Administration.
- 1950 U.S. Census, Scott County, Mississippi, Jessie B. Simmons household.
- Scott County, Mississippi, land and deed records documenting property transactions involving Jessie B. Simmons along Highway 35, Homewood Road, and surrounding areas.
- “Federal Agents Raid Still Near Hillsboro; 668 Gallons of Moonshine Seized,” The Scott County Times (Forest, Miss.), December 1961.
- “Temporary Injunctions Issued Against Liquor Establishments,” The Scott County Times (Forest, Miss.), January 1975.
- “Permanent Injunctions Ordered in Liquor Cases,” The Scott County Times (Forest, Miss.), April 1975.
- “ABC Officers Charge Jessie ‘Monkey’ Simmons,” The Scott County Times (Forest, Miss.), June 1976.
- “Appeal Dismissed; Liquor Fine Upheld,” The Scott County Times (Forest, Miss.), March 1979.
- “Card of Thanks,” The Scott County Times (Forest, Miss.), December 1984.
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