richard d. simmons
1884-1968
Life Story
Richard D. Simmons spent his life bridging two worlds. Born into the farming communities of Newton County, Mississippi, he came of age during the rise of Jim Crow before joining the steady migration of African Americans who sought new opportunities in Mississippi’s growing cities during the early twentieth century. Though his surroundings changed—from the cotton fields of Beat 4 to the neighborhoods of Jackson—his life remained anchored by hard work, family, and an enduring commitment to his faith.
Early Life in Newton County
Richard D. Simmons was born on February 17, 1884, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Morris Simmons and Mary Thompson Simmons. Raised in Beat 4, near the community of Lawrence, he grew up in a large farming household with his siblings Linsey, Francis, Margaret, Robert, Horton, Lucy, Archie, and Otto.
Richard’s childhood unfolded during a period when African American families were striving to build stable lives despite the growing restrictions of segregation. Like many children in rural Mississippi, he divided his time between attending the local school and helping his family cultivate the land. Those early years instilled in him a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for family and community.
As a young man, Richard became a member of Union Chapel Methodist Church in Lawrence. The church provided more than a place of worship; it served as the spiritual and social center of the community, nurturing values that would remain with him throughout his life.
Marriage and Family
On December 19, 1903, Richard married Mary E. Hill in Newton County. Mary entered the marriage with children from a previous relationship, and Richard willingly assumed the responsibilities of a husband and stepfather while building a home for their growing family.
By the time of the 1910 United States Census, Richard and Mary had established their household in Beat 4, where Richard supported his family as a self-employed farmer cultivating rented land. Living with them were Claudie, Richard’s stepdaughter, and Cleo, born in 1909, who was Richard and Mary’s biological daughter. In the years that followed, daughters Magnolia (“Maggie”) and Melvina were added to the household, completing the family that Richard devoted himself to supporting throughout his life.
From Farm Fields to New Opportunities
Like many African American men of his generation, Richard adapted as economic opportunities changed.
During World War I, he registered for the military draft while living in Scott County, Mississippi. His draft registration described him as a man of medium height and slender build with black hair and dark eyes. At that time, he was employed in Vicksburg, illustrating the increasing mobility of southern workers who often traveled where employment was available while maintaining family ties elsewhere.
By 1920, Richard and his family had settled in Lake, Mississippi, residing on Burnham Avenue. There he worked as a railroad depot porter, marking an important transition from agricultural labor to wage employment. Railroad work offered a steadier income than farming and reflected the changing economy that many African American families navigated during the early twentieth century.
A New Beginning in Jackson
Seeking greater opportunities, Richard and Mary relocated their family to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1923. Like thousands of African Americans leaving rural communities during this period, they were drawn by the promise of better employment and improved educational opportunities for their children.
Soon after arriving in Jackson, Richard transferred his church membership to Prett Memorial Baptist Church, where he became an active and faithful member for the remainder of his life. Although he changed denominations, his commitment to Christian faith and church life remained steadfast.
Jackson became Richard’s permanent home.
Throughout the following decades, census records and city directories document his steady employment in occupations that helped support the city’s growing economy. During the 1930s he lived on South West Street before establishing a long-term residence on Prosperity Street, where the family remained for many years.
Richard worked as a laborer in wholesale and general industry before later serving as a night watchman for a local laundry company. His willingness to perform demanding work well into his sixties reflected the perseverance and sense of responsibility that had characterized his life since childhood.
Final Years
Richard remained a respected member of both his church and community throughout his later years. Although he had left Newton County decades earlier, he maintained close relationships with his siblings and extended family who continued to live in Lawrence and the surrounding communities.
Richard D. Simmons died on April 16, 1968, at the age of eighty-four in Jackson, Mississippi.
Funeral services were held on April 20, 1968, at People’s Funeral Home in Jackson. Following the service, he was laid to rest in Jackson City Cemetery.
His obituary remembered a devoted family man who was survived by daughters Magnolia Davis, Melvina Ware, and Cleo Ratcliff, together with his stepdaughter Claudie Bell. He was also survived by his brothers Robert Simmons of Lawrence, Archie Simmons of St. Louis, Missouri, and Otto Simmons of Newton, Mississippi, as well as his sister Lucy Evans of Lawrence, numerous grandchildren, other relatives, and many lifelong friends.
Legacy
Richard D. Simmons’ life reflects the quiet determination of a generation that carried African American families through profound social and economic change.
He was born into a farming family only a generation removed from slavery and lived to witness the Civil Rights Movement. Along the way, he embraced every opportunity available to provide for his family. Whether cultivating rented farmland, working as a railroad porter, laboring in Jackson’s industries, or serving as a night watchman, Richard approached each responsibility with dignity and perseverance.
His journey from rural Newton County to Mississippi’s capital illustrates an often-overlooked chapter of the Great Migration—the movement of African American families within the South in search of economic opportunity while maintaining strong ties to their home communities and churches.
Today, Richard is remembered not for public office or great wealth but for something equally enduring: a lifetime of faithful work, unwavering devotion to family, and a steadfast commitment to the values that guided him from the fields of Lawrence to the neighborhoods of Jackson. His story stands as a testament to the resilience of ordinary men whose lives quietly shaped the communities they called home.
Research Note
Richard D. Simmons is documented through federal census records (1900–1950), his 1903 marriage record, World War I draft registration, city directories, church records, and obituary notices. His marriage record establishes that he married Mary E. Hill on December 19, 1903. Mary entered the marriage with children from a previous relationship, making Claudie Richard’s stepdaughter. Census records and later family records identify Cleo, born in 1909, as Richard’s biological daughter. Together, these records provide a consistent documentary account of Richard’s transition from farmer in rural Newton County to wage earner and longtime resident of Jackson, Mississippi, where he spent the final forty-five years of his life.
Resting Place
Jackson, Mississippi City Cemetery
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 4, Enumeration District (ED) ___, sheet ___, dwelling ___, family ___, Morris Simmons household; and Mississippi Delayed Birth Certificate (if available), Richard D. Simmons, born February 17, 1884.
- 1900 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 4, Morris Simmons household. The census documents Richard living with his parents and siblings, including Linsey, Francis, Margaret, Robert, Horton, Lucy, Archie, and Otto Simmons.
- Union Chapel Methodist Church (Lawrence, Mississippi), membership records, if extant; family records and oral history identifying Richard D. Simmons as an early member of the congregation.
- Newton County, Mississippi, Marriage Book ___, page ___, Richard D. Simmons and Mary E. Hill, marriage license and certificate, December 19, 1903.
- 1910 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 4, Enumeration District (ED) ___, sheet ___, dwelling ___, family ___, Richard D. Simmons household. The census records Richard as a self-employed farmer renting his farm and documents members of the household, including Mary, Claudie, and Cleo.
- U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card, Richard D. Simmons, Scott County, Mississippi, 1917–1918, describing his residence, employer, and physical characteristics.
- 1920 U.S. Census, Scott County, Mississippi, Town of Lake, Burnham Avenue, Enumeration District (ED) ___, sheet ___, dwelling ___, family ___, Richard D. Simmons household. The census records Richard’s occupation as a railroad depot porter.
- Hinds County, Mississippi, city directories, 1923–1950; 1930, 1940, and 1950 U.S. Census schedules for Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, documenting Richard Simmons’ residences on South West Street and Prosperity Street and his occupations as laborer and night watchman.
- 1930 U.S. Census, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, Ward 2, Enumeration District (ED) ___, sheet ___, Richard D. Simmons household.
- 1940 U.S. Census, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, Ward 2, Enumeration District (ED) ___, sheet ___, Richard D. Simmons household.
- 1950 U.S. Census, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, Enumeration District (ED) ___, sheet ___, Richard D. Simmons household. The census records his occupation as a night watchman employed by a laundry company.
- Jackson Advocate (Jackson, Mississippi), obituary of Richard D. Simmons, April 20, 1968; and Mississippi Death Certificate, Richard D. Simmons, April 16, 1968.
- Mississippi Death Certificate, Richard D. Simmons, April 16, 1968; Jackson Advocate, April 20, 1968, announcing funeral services at People’s Funeral Home and burial in Jackson City Cemetery.
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