Obituary: Gerald Dwight Simmons
Gerald Dwight Simmons, died at home on Monday, February 2, 2026 in Raleigh North Carolina at age 89. Gerald Simmons was born at home in Albertson North Carolina, April 11, 1936 to Rodolph Duffy Simmons and Bonnie Dell Outlaw Simmons,
As a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Gerald Simmons met the love of his life, Carol Rouse Simmons, as a child at Shelter Neck Unitarian Universalist Camp. They became close friends dating off and on throughout high school and college. They married May 2, 1959 and remained devoted to each other for 64 years of marriage. He is survived by
his two children, Susan Simmons-Wasilewski (Andy) and Gregory Gerald Simmons(Gray), grandchildren, Stefan and Mark Wasilewski (Aimee Murphy), Skylar Simmons Taylor (Kendall) and great-grandson, Harrison Taylor, and Robert Simmons (Amanda). He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Curtis Simmons (Carolyn Turner); nephews Brian Simmons (Leslie and Matthew, Nathan, Daniel) and Travis Simmons (Rebecca and Bladen and Jaxon). Additional survivors are Stacy, Colin and Aiden Ryan, Danrong Zhang, Xiangming, Anna and Katie Hu, and his very special friends Edward Lewis and Delthea Simmons. He is greatly missed by a host of cousins and friends.
Gerald Simmons graduated Valedictorian of B.F. Grady High School with FFA Honors and North Carolina State University in Agricultural Engineering with Honors. He was devoted to the Seventh Principle of Faith of Unitarian Universalism, the Interdependent Web of Life. He was also devoted to the Outlaw’s Bridge Universalist Church his entire life, The UU Congregation of Kinston, UCONCI Board since 1960, Shelter Neck UU Camp (life long), and faithfully attended local, regional, and national church conferences.
Gerald’s steadfast belief in service continued in the Southwood Ruritan Club and as a founding member and first president of the North Carolina Grape Growers’ Association. His love for the environmental service guided his support for a collaboration between Shelter Neck UU Camp and the NC Nature Conservancy with work on flood plain resiliency in Pender County, North Carolina. This love of the environment was deeply rooted in his career with the Federal Soil and Water Conservation Service in Jones, Lenoir, and Yadkin counties.
Gerald Simmons faced heart disease for many years starting at age 54. He was supported for the last 9 years through the amazing care from Beverly Medical Center, Wake Med Heart and Vascular, and Medicap Pharmacy/Compounding. Transitions Hospice was a vital support in his final days and the 24-7 loving care of Veron Percy-Jarrett, CNA and family. We were fortunate to be able to care for him at home with the help of this amazing care team allowing for loving, safe care.
A service celebrating Gerald’s life will be held at Outlaw’s Bridge Universalist Church, 4408 NC-111, Seven Springs North Carolina, 28578, on Saturday, February 21, at 3 PM. A reception will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, Gerald’s family suggests donations to the Carol and Gerald Simmons Memorial Library at Shelter Neck UU Camp or the Outlaw’s Bridge Universalist Church in Seven Springs North Carolina. To contribute to the Memorial Library, make checks payable to Universalist Convention of NC, INC, and put Gerald Simmons Memorial Library and Environmental Fund, in the memo field.
