John Frederick Simmons was born on April 7, 1945, in Miami, FL, to the late John Simmons and Ruby Lee Stubbs. John initially accepted Christ as a young boy and was baptized at the Historic Mount Zion Baptist Church where he was often remembered for the speeches he gave during special church occasions. An Overtown, Miami, native, John excelled in sports and matriculated through the Miami Dade County public school system, attending Booker T. Washington before transferring to Miami Northwestern Sr. High.

 

He first met Odessa (Thomas) Simmons in 1967 and later married her on May 16, 1975. This union was blessed with three children, John “Eneis,” Angela, and Bianca Simmons. John was also blessed with oldest daughter, Goldye Y. Simmons, prior to his union with Odessa.

 

God’s grace covered John’s late teens through his early thirties, keeping him safe through choices that God would ultimately use to lead John back to His perfect will. Also during this time, John, with the help of his wife, lovingly cared for his mother, Ruby, until her passing in 1998. By then, he was well-established in the construction trade as a highly-skilled concrete finisher. Over the span of his more than 30-year career, John honed a tremendous work ethic. He would leave home before dawn each day to travel and work hard at jobsites all over South and Central Florida with his crew. His crews became his second family due to the strong comradery he would always develop while working for various companies, including Weekly Asphalt Paving and OHL Community Asphalt, which was his last post before retiring at the age of 72.

 

John genuinely enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, good food, spending time with family and friends, and as his relationship with Jesus matured, meditating daily on the word of God. John joined New Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church after visiting several times with his youngest daughter and wife (both members) and though separated as a couple, John and Odessa were there for one another until the end. Through the years, each of them put aside personal differences to always support each other, their children, and extended family. John’s favorite scripture was Psalm 1 (in its entirety) (KJV), “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the council of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law does he meditate day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not whither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

 

On March 5, 2024, John transitioned from time to eternity - loving his family, friends, and Heavenly Father who welcomed him home. God gets ALL the glory for the wonderful grace filled life and legacy of John Frederick Simmons. Frederick Simmons will be cherished by his wife, Odessa; older sister, Goldye Sanders (Harold); son, John “Eneis;” daughters, Goldye Y. Simmons, Angela, and Bianca; grandchildren, Shontanese, Leah, Nhojiea, Zian, and Joziah; along with a host of loving nieces, nephews, other extended family members, and dear friends.