Bonnie Carol Simmons

Bonnie Carol Simmons was born on November 15, 1947, to the late George Simmons and Emma Simmons. From an early age, she embodied quiet strength, a nurturing heart, and a steadfast spirit, qualities that would define her life’s work and legacy. 

She began her education at Carver Elementary School and later attended the Fuller Normal Industrial Institute in Greenville, South Carolina. After completing her studies, Bonnie returned home with an open heart and a curious mind. Unsure of which path to pursue, she remained ready to serve wherever she was needed. 

Her journey into child development began with a simple request to assist the local Girl Scouts and occasionally help at the Carver School Head Start Program. These early opportunities blossomed into a lifelong calling to care for and educate young children. In 1968, she began working at the Tri-Church Day Care Center under the guidance of Doretha Bowens, a relationship that helped shape her purpose. In 1972, she began working at Mt. Olive AME Church Preschool Development Center. 

In 1985, Bonnie took time off to care for her ailing mother. After that season of devotion, she returned to Mt. Olive Preschool. Following a year of service, she felt led to make a change, and Bonnie’s Family Home Daycare was born. This state-registered childcare center blended structure and love, grounded in her faith and years of experience. Always eager to grow, Bonnie attended workshops and classes to continue strengthening the care she provided to her beloved families. 

In February 2000, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and became a member of Shields Chapel Fire Baptized Holiness Church. Her faith guided every step of her journey. When asked how she felt not having her own children, she answered with unwavering grace: “God didn’t make me a birth mother because He had a plan for me. He wanted me to help with the children, so He made me an Earth Mother.”

Bonnie embraced this divine calling with humility and joy. She became a source of unconditional love, a beacon of care, and a reflection of God’s grace to countless children and families. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to her children for their love, to parents for their trust, to family for their support, and to God; for her life, her purpose, and the generations of children she was called to nurture. 

On June 20, 2025, Bonnie was called home to be with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, George and Emma Simmons; her sister, Gwendolyn Simmons Jones; and her special sister, Nina Gore. 

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Audrey (Michael) Bland; her loving grandson, Jadlyn Bland; a host of relatives, friends, and her forever church family. 

Bonnie’s life was a testament to quiet faith, boundless compassion, and unwavering purpose. She was not only a caregiver but a chosen vessel; an Earth Mother, to generations of hearts she helped shape.

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