George I. Simmons, Sr.

On Monday evening, May 8, 2017, George Simmons passed away at Holy Cross Hospital, succumbing to complications of dementia. He was 85 years old.

Services will be held on Tuesday, May 16 at 2:00 pm at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church located at 5205 43rd Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Following the service there will be a repast on the second floor of the City of Hyattsville Municipal Building located directly behind St. Jerome’s Church at 4310 Gallatin St. George served in the United States Navy during the Korean War and will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.The time and date are yet to be determined. I lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider donations to Hillhaven Assisted Living, Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Their address is 3210 Powder Mill Road Adelphi, MD 20783.

A native of the Washington area, George is predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Anne nee Fliedner Simmons. He is also predeceased by sisters Betty White and Shirley Holt, as well as by his grandson, Brandon Proctor. He leaves behind sisters Joyce Proctor of Mechanicsville, MD, Ann Finley of Mechanicsville, MD, Jeanne Simmons of Falls Church, VA and brother Bob Simmons of Huntingtown, MD.

Other survivors include daughters Maria Simmons (and partner Bob Chisolm) of Summerville, SC, and Alisa Proctor (and husband Warren Proctor) of Silver Spring, MD and sons George Simmons Jr (and wife Jeanne Simmons) of Keymar, MD and Tony Simmons (and partners Joseph Darensbourg and Xavier Juarez) of New Orleans, LA.

Grandfather to Heather Simmons of Aurora, Colorado, Lynne Patton of Frederick, MD, Robbie Simmons of Keymar, MD, Matthew Proctor of Silver Spring, MD and Christopher Proctor of Mt. Airy, MD, George also leaves five great granddaughters (with a great grandson on his way). His “girls” are Charlotte Patton, the newest, as well as Nevaeh and Lee’Anne Proctor and Amber and Ava Proctor.

Born on July 14, 1931 in Washington, DC, he was the first son of George Camillus “Irvin” Simmons and Annie Ruth Simmons, both originally of the “Piscataway Indian Reservation” located at what is now the U.S. Naval Support Facility at Indian Head, MD. George Irvin Simmons was raised in the LaPlata, MD area. Following high school at Pomonkey High, George worked at the Pomonkey Spoon Factory. George married Anne Fliedner on October 30, 1954 after his discharge from the Navy. Together, they raised their four children. Except for a brief period in the 1990s, George and Anne spent most of their lives on 42nd Avenue in Hyattsville, MD.

In 1987, George ended a career of more than twenty-five years with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. He was a fixture of his Hyattsville neighborhood, often noting that he had “the best neighbors in the world”.

“Seeya later, alligator.”

“Beep, beep.”