Mr. Kenneth Martin Simmons Sr.

SIMMONS, Mr. Kenneth M., Sr. - Age 85, passed away Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at his residence. Family hour 10:00 AM Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at Christ Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 317 E. Hamilton Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM, Pastor Allen C. Overton Sr., officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 10:00 AM Tuesday. Mr. Simmons will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 1:00 PM-8:00 PM with family present to receive friends from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM Monday. Mr. Kenneth Martin Simmons Sr. was born July 12, 1933 in Flint, Michigan. He graduated from the Flint School System. Mr. Simmons obtained his Certification from the School of Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State University in 1986. Kenneth was a loving and devoted husband to Eldoris for 65yrs, father and grandfather. He was an avid cook, bowler, hunter, fisherman, world traveler and gardener. One of the original “Flintstones”, Kenneth hired into AC Spark Plug, a division of General Motors Corporation on September 15, 1953, with 23 years of United Auto Worker service. Serving Local Union #651 as Alternate Committeeman 1958-1960, District Committeeman 1960-1963, Shop Committeeman 1963-1975, Chairman Shop Committee 1975-1978, First African American Union President 1978-1981, Chairman Sub Council 4 1977-1981, Served on (2) UAW International Conventions 1974 & 1978, retiring from General Motors in 1980. Kenneth served on the Flint Board of Education 1978-1979. He was appointed by the Flint Housing Commission as the Executive Director of Public Housing 1982-1999. Under his direction Aldridge Place was built in 1984 and Simmons Square was dedicated in his honor in 1993. Kenneth was awarded the “Key to the City of Flint” in 1981. He also served on several other committees and boards in the Flint community. Mr. Kenneth Martin Simmons Sr. leaves to cherish his memory: daughter, Debra Simmons of Grand Blanc, MI; son, Kenneth “Marty” Simmons Jr. & (friend, Tracie); granddaughter, Regina “ReRe” Simmons; special nephew, Reggie Simmons, all of Flint; 2 sisters-in-law, Delores Vaughn of Mt. Morris, MI and Ida Johnson of Flint; 5 brothers-in-law, Clyde Lee Sr. of Detroit, MI, Colonel (Betty) Lee Jr. of Flint, Joseph (Dorothy) Lee of Flushing, MI, Eugene (Cathis) Lee of Grand Blanc, MI and Anthony Lee of North Carolina; special cousins, Grace “Peaches” Wells of Chicago, IL, Rene’ Simmons of Flint and Johnny Mae Gathings of New Mexico; a host of other relatives and friends including special family friends, Rudy Gibson, Ruth Norris, Regina Keels, Celie Harris, Magee and Grant families, and Eckley Avenue neighbors. Mr. Simmons was preceded in death by his wife of 65 yrs., Doris Simmons; great-granddaughter, MaCaya Marie; parents, Alfred and Mary Simmons; brothers, Alfred Jr., Donald and Taylor Simmons; in-laws, Colonel and Eliza Lee Sr.; sisters-in-law, Maple Skinner and Rachel Silk; brother-in-law, William Lee; and god-brother, Leroy “Jack” Madison. The family would like to express special thanks to caregivers, Lucy Borden, Latriese Brown, Donjale Wright, Darlynda Harnett, and Deborah Milling, Dr. Alex Rodrigues, Manor Law Group and Kindred at Home and Hospice Care.

Mr. Kenneth Martin Simmons Sr.

July 12, 1933 - February 19, 2019