Obituary for Margaret~Stine Witherspoon Simmons
Elder Margaret Witherspoon-Simmons was born September 20, 1950 to the late Richard and Bettie
Mae Edwards-Witherspoon in Pickens, Arkansas. She departed this life on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
Margaret was the fourth girl out of five sisters, and she was the eighth child out of fifteen children. There
were ten boys and five girls, eight of her siblings. She was preceded in death by her father, Richard; her
mother, Bettie Mae; her stepmother, Mrs. Mary Olar Witherspoon; and her husband, Mr. Steven Leon
Simmons.
Margaret accepted Jesus Christ at the age of twelve years old and was baptized and united with the
family's home church, Syrene Missionary Baptist Church in Pickens, Arkansas under the leadership of
Pastor Minor Coleman.
Margaret graduated from A.L. Reed High School in Dumas, Arkansas in the Class of 1968. Margaret’s
father moved the family from Pickens, Arkansas to Liberal, Kansas. She acquired various jobs in Liberal;
she worked at the United States Post office in the mailroom, she also worked for Panhandle Eastern Oil
Company as a secretary.
Margaret was very adventurous, she left Liberal and moved to Kansas City, Missouri with her sister,
Bernestine Britt. There she acquired a job with the Western Electric /AT&T Southwestern Bell Telephone
Company. Soon afterward, she left Kansas City and moved to Denver, Colorado and decided to attend
college. She graduated from University of Colorado Greeley where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in
Social Work. She also met and married Mr. Steven Leon Simmons.
In 2003 Margaret moved to Mobile, Alabama and acquired employment with the Mobile County Public
School System. She continued her education and acquired a Master of Education Degree, a Human
Resources and Administration Degree and she also studied Criminal Justice at the University of Northern
Alabama State University.
Margaret was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She loved the Lord, and she loved
church. When she moved to Mobile, she searched for a church home, she joined Solid Rock Church of
Mobile under the leadership of Pastor John D. Young, Jr. and Co-Pastor Mary F. Young. Margaret
loved her church family and the leadership that she received from Pastor Young & family. She served as a
Pastoral Support/Pastor’s Aide member where she was eager to do special things for the Pastor and
Wife’s Anniversaries. As an Elder, she ministered the Gospel when asked. She was the department head
over the Women Ministry and served as Armor-Bearer as well as Prayer Warrior. She was a great
fundraiser and a member of the choir. Margaret had a thirst for the Word of God; she studied the word of
God and was ordained by Pastor Young as a licensed Elder in 2018.
Margaret was a Fashionista, she loved to dress in beautiful attire, she was a lover of hats, and she wore
them in the most beautiful way. Margaret was also a devoted member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
Incorporated, New Zeta Chapter, Prichard, AL.
Margaret leaves to cherish her loving memories, one daughter, Ms. Roslyn Brewer of Dallas, TX; two
sons: Mr. Dexter T. Brewer of Denver, CO and Mr. Steven Christopher Simmons of the home, Mobile,
AL; a special son/nephew, Mr. Landrix Bailem of Mt. Vernon, AL; four grandsons: Rylan Battle of
Dallas, TX, Brian Thomas, Jr. of New York, NY, Steven Simmons and Stefan Simmons of Denver, CO;
two granddaughters: Nevaeha and Nyonii Simmons of Denver, CO; three sisters: Mrs. Delois (Maurice)
Terry of Liberal, KS, Gloria J. (Rev. Steven) Bailem of Mt. Vernon, AL and Bernestine Britt of Kansas
City, MO; an honorary sister, Evangelist Teretha Scaife of Mobile, AL; three brothers: Mr. James
Witherspoon of Liberal, KS, Mr. Michael Witherspoon and Mr. Frederick (Rev. Tammi) Witherspoon
both of Dallas, TX; dear friends: Mr. Ollie Mingo, Ms. Latoya Simms; a special and personal nurse,
Jamie Conaway of Mobile, AL; special sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Lou Smith of Chicago, IL; she also
leaves to mourn a host of nieces, nephews, cousins (Witherspoon, Huskey, Kings); her Church Family,
her Sorority Sisters and a host of cousins, other relatives, friends and her students
Mae Edwards-Witherspoon in Pickens, Arkansas. She departed this life on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
Margaret was the fourth girl out of five sisters, and she was the eighth child out of fifteen children. There
were ten boys and five girls, eight of her siblings. She was preceded in death by her father, Richard; her
mother, Bettie Mae; her stepmother, Mrs. Mary Olar Witherspoon; and her husband, Mr. Steven Leon
Simmons.
Margaret accepted Jesus Christ at the age of twelve years old and was baptized and united with the
family's home church, Syrene Missionary Baptist Church in Pickens, Arkansas under the leadership of
Pastor Minor Coleman.
Margaret graduated from A.L. Reed High School in Dumas, Arkansas in the Class of 1968. Margaret’s
father moved the family from Pickens, Arkansas to Liberal, Kansas. She acquired various jobs in Liberal;
she worked at the United States Post office in the mailroom, she also worked for Panhandle Eastern Oil
Company as a secretary.
Margaret was very adventurous, she left Liberal and moved to Kansas City, Missouri with her sister,
Bernestine Britt. There she acquired a job with the Western Electric /AT&T Southwestern Bell Telephone
Company. Soon afterward, she left Kansas City and moved to Denver, Colorado and decided to attend
college. She graduated from University of Colorado Greeley where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in
Social Work. She also met and married Mr. Steven Leon Simmons.
In 2003 Margaret moved to Mobile, Alabama and acquired employment with the Mobile County Public
School System. She continued her education and acquired a Master of Education Degree, a Human
Resources and Administration Degree and she also studied Criminal Justice at the University of Northern
Alabama State University.
Margaret was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She loved the Lord, and she loved
church. When she moved to Mobile, she searched for a church home, she joined Solid Rock Church of
Mobile under the leadership of Pastor John D. Young, Jr. and Co-Pastor Mary F. Young. Margaret
loved her church family and the leadership that she received from Pastor Young & family. She served as a
Pastoral Support/Pastor’s Aide member where she was eager to do special things for the Pastor and
Wife’s Anniversaries. As an Elder, she ministered the Gospel when asked. She was the department head
over the Women Ministry and served as Armor-Bearer as well as Prayer Warrior. She was a great
fundraiser and a member of the choir. Margaret had a thirst for the Word of God; she studied the word of
God and was ordained by Pastor Young as a licensed Elder in 2018.
Margaret was a Fashionista, she loved to dress in beautiful attire, she was a lover of hats, and she wore
them in the most beautiful way. Margaret was also a devoted member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
Incorporated, New Zeta Chapter, Prichard, AL.
Margaret leaves to cherish her loving memories, one daughter, Ms. Roslyn Brewer of Dallas, TX; two
sons: Mr. Dexter T. Brewer of Denver, CO and Mr. Steven Christopher Simmons of the home, Mobile,
AL; a special son/nephew, Mr. Landrix Bailem of Mt. Vernon, AL; four grandsons: Rylan Battle of
Dallas, TX, Brian Thomas, Jr. of New York, NY, Steven Simmons and Stefan Simmons of Denver, CO;
two granddaughters: Nevaeha and Nyonii Simmons of Denver, CO; three sisters: Mrs. Delois (Maurice)
Terry of Liberal, KS, Gloria J. (Rev. Steven) Bailem of Mt. Vernon, AL and Bernestine Britt of Kansas
City, MO; an honorary sister, Evangelist Teretha Scaife of Mobile, AL; three brothers: Mr. James
Witherspoon of Liberal, KS, Mr. Michael Witherspoon and Mr. Frederick (Rev. Tammi) Witherspoon
both of Dallas, TX; dear friends: Mr. Ollie Mingo, Ms. Latoya Simms; a special and personal nurse,
Jamie Conaway of Mobile, AL; special sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Lou Smith of Chicago, IL; she also
leaves to mourn a host of nieces, nephews, cousins (Witherspoon, Huskey, Kings); her Church Family,
her Sorority Sisters and a host of cousins, other relatives, friends and her students