Obituary of Odean Simmons

Funeral services for Mrs. Odean Ellzey Simmons, age 92 of Columbia, LA will be held at 2 PM, Monday, November 23, 2009, at the First Baptist Church of Columbia with Rev. Eric Harriman officiating. Interment will follow at Columbia Hill Cemetery in Columbia under the direction of Riser Funeral Home of Columbia. The Family will receive guests on Sunday evening from 5 PM to 8 PM at the First Baptist Church of Columbia located at 404 Church Street, Columbia. Odean Ellzey Simmons was born on August 11, 1917 at her home in Progress, MS (just outside Osyka MS) and passed from this life on November 20, 2009 at the Haven Nursing Home in Columbia, LA following a lengthy illness. Raised in and around Progress, MS, Ms. Simmons married her high school sweetheart, James Lamar Simmons. They raised their two children and lived throughout Southern Louisiana and Mississippi. Upon his retirement, they moved to Columbia, LA where they made their home after years of residence in New Orleans, LA. Ms. Simmons was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of New Orleans and thereafter, a dedicated member of First Baptist Church of Columbia. Ms. Odean was a special mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend and she will be missed by all who loved her. She was preceded in death by her parents: Grady Henry Ellzey and Bertha Fortenberry Ellzey, her husband; James Lamar Simmons, her son; James Lamar Simmons, Jr., as well as by her brothers: Carroll Ellzey and Wesley Ellzey. Survivors include her daughter; Gale Simmons Carroll and husband, Dr. E. L. Carroll, Jr. of Columbia, grandchildren: James Linus Carroll and wife, Cindy Haner Carroll of Columbia, John Sherman Carroll and wife, Sonja Grant Carroll of Columbia and Charlotte Carroll Michaud and husband, Rowdy James Michaud of Columbia, great-grandchildren: Katherine Elizabeth Carroll, Jacob Alexander Carroll, Shaelyn Janae James, Zachary Robert Carroll, James Landon Carroll, Joshua Britton Carroll, Jason Christopher Carroll and wife, Casey Rowland Carroll, Janna Elizabeth Carroll, Rowdy James Michaud, Jr. and Abigale Elizabeth Michaud, sister; Ellen Ellzey McDaniel and husband, James McDaniel of Yadkinville, NC and many nieces and nephews and their families. Pallbearers will be Allen Brown, Jackie Lawrence, David Wilson, Denious Jacobson, Sandy Carraway and Caleb Hatten. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of the First Baptist Church of Columbia Senior Adult Sunday School Class and the Deacon body of First Baptist Church of Columbia. In lieu of flowers any planned memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Columbia's building fund or to Gideon's International, PO Box 718, Columbia, LA 71418. The family sends a special "Thank you," to all who cared for Ms. Odean during her last illness: your ministry of love will be forever remembered.