Demeterius "Mickie" Simmons

Demetrius Geneva “Mickie” Simmons, 94, of Jackson, Tennessee, peacefully entered her heavenly home on June 26, 2026.

Mickie’s story began on February 6, 1932, in Jackson, Tennessee, where she was born to Reverend William F. Tines and Evy Banks Tines. Raised in the close-knit community of Bemis, she grew up surrounded by faith, music, and a servant’s heart-foundations that would shape the remarkable woman she became. Throughout her life, Mickie chose love over bitterness, service over recognition, and faith over despair. Those quiet choices became the thread that wove together every chapter of her life.

In 1951, Mickie married Charles Oscar Malone, and together they moved to Indiana, where they welcomed three children: Donna Clarice, Michael Floyd, and Melody Kay. Life brought immeasurable joy, but it also brought unimaginable sorrow. In 1963, a single tragedy claimed the lives of her beloved husband, Charlie (32), and two of their children, Michael (9) and Melody (2). Though grief forever became part of her story, it never became the author of it. Her faith became her anchor, giving her the strength to keep moving forward with grace, courage, and quiet resilience.

On February 6, 1966, Mickie found love again when she married Horace Dean Simmons. Together they built not only a marriage, but a ministry. At Bemis Pentecostal Church, they became known for the music they shared, with Mickie at the organ and Horace at the piano. Their music filled the sanctuary and communities across West Tennessee with songs of faith and hope. Their music became a family legacy, with Donna lending her beautiful voice and Melanie proudly playing the drums beside her grandparents.

Mickie’s life was defined not by what she received, but by what she gave. She taught Sunday School, led Vacation Bible School, directed children’s programs, and quietly stepped into whatever role was needed. Her generosity extended far beyond the walls of the church, and she faithfully supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, believing every child deserved hope. She never sought recognition, but countless lives were made better simply because she was part of them.

One of Mickie’s favorite stories was from her younger days, when she sat beside her friend Carl Perkins at the piano. With a smile, she would recall playing what she affectionately called “boogly woogly” music. She would often laugh as she remembered how her father, Reverend Tines, would remind her that the piano was for hymns, not rock n’ roll.

Those who knew Mickie will remember her gentle spirit, quiet humility, unwavering faith, and remarkable resilience. She loved deeply, served selflessly, and left every life she touched a little brighter than she found it.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Charles; her children, Michael and Melody; and her sisters, Charlene Foster and Rachel McKinney.

She leaves behind her husband, Horace Simmons; her beloved daughter, Donna; her sister, Margie McNatt; her granddaughter, Melanie Malone (Mary Gonzales); her great-granddaughter, Gabrielle Malone Gonzales; and many treasured family members and friends who will carry her memory forward.

SERVICES:  A time with family and friends will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors with a service to follow at 12:00 p.m. Entombment will follow in the Mausoleum at Highland Memorial Gardens.

Mickie’s legacy is not measured only in the years she lived, but in the faith she shared, the music she played, the kindness she gave, and the love she planted in the hearts of those blessed to know her. Though she is gone, the harmony of her life will echo through every life she touched.