Family and friends will gather on Saturday, September 3, to celebrate the life of Dr. Mendell L. Simmons.  She died peacefully on Saturday, August 27.  She was 72. 

    Born in Oklahoma City, Mendell spent her life committed to what she valued most, God and church, her family, and education.

    Mendell accepted Christ at an early age and grew up at Fairview Missionary Baptist Church, where she held membership at the time of her death.  Her early Christian Education was at Fairview, participating in Sunday School, BTU, Girls and Young Women groups, choir, and other areas.  During the church’s 100^th Anniversary in 2009, she shared that her family was one that maintained five generations of membership at Fairview, beginning with her grandmother and continuing through her grandchildren.  She loved her church and was active in various capacities; she had an urgency to serve and be in worship, in spite of her illness.  She currently was serving as the Director of Christian Education, Dean of Fairview’s Christian Leadership School, Chairperson of the Pastor’s Anniversary Committee, a Deaconess, a member of the Prison Ministry and would often be seen working in the kitchen as an unofficial member of the Culinary Ministry. 

    For over 20 years she was a part of the Registration Staff of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, the education arm of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.  She was the Assistant Dean of the Oklahoma Baptist State Congress of Christian Education (OBSCE) and of the East Zion Consolidated District Congress of Christian Education (EZCDC).  She taught Public Speaking at the OBSCE, the EZCDC and Fairview’s Christian Leadership School. 

    Dr. Simmons cherished knowledge and committed her life to education.   She was a 1956 graduate of Douglass High School.  She was persistent in her desire to obtain her Ph.D. and, while raising her family and working fulltime, she pursued her education.  In 1982, she achieved her goal by being granted a Ph.D. in Psychology. 

    She worked for 20 years at the University of Oklahoma, retiring as an Academic Advisor for first generation college students.   She also worked as Vice President of Academic Affairs at American Christian College and Seminary in Oklahoma City and currently was an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore. 

    Mendell never sought the spotlight; she preferred to work behind the scenes.  She mentored many of the young students that she came in contact with through her employment and her work at the church.  She not only cared about them academically but also encouraged and counseled them spiritually, maintaining connections with them well into their adulthood.  

    She was spoken of by her family as a loving mother, grandmother, and a peacemaker.   She is survived by four sisters, her husband, Bob, her children, Brenda Griffith, Audrey Smith, and Bobby, eleven grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

    Visitations can be made at Rolfe Funeral Home, 2936 Northeast 36^th Street, Oklahoma City, beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, and all day Friday.  The body will lie in state at Fairview on Saturday, September 3, from 10:30 a.m. until 11:50. The Homecoming Celebration and final tribute will begin at 12 noon, under the direction of Rolfe Funeral Home.  Dr. J. A. Reed, Jr., Senior Pastor at Fairview, will do the eulogy.  Fairview is located at 1700 N. E. 7^th Street in Oklahoma City. 

    In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dr. Mendell L. Simmons Scholarship Fund.  Donations can be mailed to Audrey Smith, 3447 Livingston Lane, Carrollton, TX, 75007.