Bettie J. Simmons

Bettie J. Simmons, 71 of Belpre, Ohio passed away at her residence Jan. 17, 2017. She was born October 30, 1946 in Beckley, WV a daughter of the late Eddie and Willie Mae Sanders Gray. Bettie graduated from Stratton High School in Beckley. She worked for Equitable Assurance in New York, New York for 25 years. She moved to Panama City, Florida and worked for Sallie Mae. She had a talent for design. She could look at a house/yard and the interior of a house and within minutes come up with a plan. She was a girly girl that loved clothes and shoes and was always a fashion statement whenever she left the house. Bettie is survived by two children, Gary Simmons (Malgorzata) of Livonia, Michigan and Alicia Ford of Belpre; four grandchildren, Chloe Ford of Belpre, Gabriella Nicole, Alina May, and Jaqualine Marie Simmons all of Livonia, Michigan; three sisters, Anna Leftridge of Belpre, Juanita Wright of Phiidelphia, Pa., and Virginia Perine (Roger) of Belpre; two brothers, Eddie W. Gray (Ann) of Croydon, Pa. and Ernest (Antoinette) Gray of Belpre; sister-in-law, Annie Gray of Central Islip, NY; special friends, Mac Washington of Belpre, Jessie Thompson of Marietta, OH, Ann McCaskill, John Plummer, Oliver Reynolds, Kenneth Brown, Angela Speights, Elizabeth Ponds, Debra Murphy, and Mike Johnson all of Panama City, Florida. In addition to her parents Bettie was preceded in death by two sisters, Pam Garrett and Lois Wheeler; and a brother, James E. Gray Funeral services for Bettie will be 10:00 a.m. Sunday, January 21, 2018 at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home 1305 Washington Blvd. Belpre, Ohio with family and friends eulogizing. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and one hour prior to services Sunday at the funeral home.