Extracted from The Biloxi Daily Herald (Biloxi, MS)
JUDGE J. U. SIMMONS SUCCUMBS
Judge J. U. Simmons, city court judge in Gulfport for 20 years, was stricken unexpectedly at 11:15 p.m. Thursday and was dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital.
He was 66 and resided at 1001 38th Ave.
Judge Simmons was first appointed judge at the city court by the late Mayor Joseph W. Milner in April 1942. He was presently serving his third term appointment by Mayor R. B. Meadows Jr.
He maintained law offices with his son, Donald O. Simmons, at 2213 15th St., moving into a new building there about three years.
He had resided in Gulfport since 1922, coming here after graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1921 where he received his degree in law. After teaching school for two years, he opened his law office in 1924 and began general practice of law, particularly active in title and chancery matters.
He held memberships in various service and fraternal organizations. He was a member and past commander of Joe Graham Post 110, American Legion; a past commander of the American Legion Ninth District; and was a member of the 40 et 8. He was presently serving as judge advocate of the Legion post.
He was a member of Southern Star Lodge 500, F & AM, twice serving the lodge as worshipful master. He was also a member of the York Rites and the Shrine. He held memberships in the International Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
Judge Simmons was a member of the Mississippi and Harrison County Bar Associations. Members of the county bar will be honorary pallbearers. He was of the Baptist faith.
He was born in Jasper Co., on Sept 17, 1896 and finished high school at Louin.
Judge Simmons is survived by his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Ewards Simmons; two sons, J. U. Simmons Jr. of Houston, Tex., and Donald Simmons of Gulfport; a daughter, Mrs. Elayne Simmons I skald of Fort Walton, Fla; nine grandchildren; two brothers, L. W. Simmons of Vicksburg, and W. L. Simmons of Jackson; and four sisters, Mrs. Nettie Diaz of Hickory, Miss., Mrs. Odie Hammons of Louin, Mrs. Viva Buckley of Enterprise and Mrs. Hugh B. Preston of San Diego, Calif.
Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock Saturday morning at Riemann Funeral Home chapel in Gulfport. Dr. Landrum P. Leavell, pastor of First Baptist Church, and the Rev. P. S. Dodge, pastor of Providence Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Coalville Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home chapel after 3 p.m. Friday.
Friday, June 21, 1963