Bettye Jean Gray Simmons was born September 23, 1945 and passed away on June 26, 2026. She died in the comfort of her home. She was born the 10th of 13 Children to Willie Sam Gray & Estelle Warren Gray In West Point Mississippi/Tibbee.

Bettye was married for 54 years tom Harold James Simmons and leaves behind her two daughters, Kimberley De’Layne Jenkins Lajoie Karama Ryan’s her grandchildren, Shardae L’Oréal Lajoie Shavante L Lajoie, Kylan Q Simmons and great-grandchildren, S’Aaliyah Kimberley Jean Lajoie and S’Aadiq Karte’-Runard Lajoie.

When Bettye was a young girl, her mother, Estelle Warren Gray, entrusted her oldest sister, Vera Husband, with the special responsibility of helping raise her. With thirteen children to care for, Big Mommy Estelle depended on Vera to serve as a second mother to Bettye and their youngest sister, Barbara, little brothers Howard and Robert (Apple Jack). Vera lovingly embraced that role, and the three sisters shared a close bond during their years together at home.

From an early age, Bettye displayed a remarkable talent for hairstyling and quickly became the family’s beautician, lovingly caring for the hair of siblings, relatives, and friends.

After Vera moved to Chicago to help their older sister, Mary, Bettye graduated from 5th Street Junior and Senior High School in West Point, Mississippi, and soon followed her sisters to Chicago. It was there that she met the love of her life, Harold “Harry” James Simmons, whom she would later marry.

Bettye devoted her life to her family. She was a loving wife, a dedicated homemaker, and an extraordinary mother and grandmother who found her greatest joy in caring for her home, nurturing her children, and helping raise her grandchildren, and also helped raised her nieces and nephews.

She possessed an exceptional gift for teaching children, patiently helping them understand their schoolwork and encouraging them to succeed. Blessed with a brilliant mind, Bettye scored exceptionally high on IQ testing and amazed everyone with her incredible knowledge. Whether watching trivia competitions or game shows, she seemed to know the answer to nearly every question. She read the entire dictionary from A-Z Memorizing many words and increased her vocabulary to high standards.

Bettye left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered. She truly never met a stranger. Her home was always open to anyone in need of a warm meal, wise counsel, prayer, or simply a safe place to rest. She welcomed people with kindness, compassion, and genuine love, making countless individuals feel like family.

Although Chicago and later California became her home, Bettye always dreamed of returning to Mississippi one day to retire. By God’s grace, many of the hopes and dreams she carried throughout her life were fulfilled. Above all, her greatest desire was for her family to remain united in love. Nothing brought her greater happiness than seeing everyone together.

Bettye accepted Jesus Christ early in life and was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the early 1970’s at Stratford Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church in Chicago, Illinois, under the leadership of Pastor Douglas Simon.

Her love for ministry was evident through her faithful service. She taught others about Christ and directed one of the church’s most memorable productions, “Twelve Gates to the City” Through this ministry, she inspired many people with the message of God’s love and the hope of salvation.

Although she faithfully worshiped each Sabbath in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Bettye also lovingly supported her sister, Pastor Mary Kyle, by attending services at her Sunday church, Daughters of Moab, in Chicago. Even after spending an entire Sabbath in worship, she still found the time and energy to encourage and support her sister’s ministry, often bringing along her children, nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Later, Bettye and her family moved to California, as well as her Best Friend Legertha O’Neil, following her sister Vera Husband. There she united with the Sun Village Seventh-day Adventist Church, where her brother-in-law, Pastor George Lenard Husband, faithfully ministered to her. Bettye would later move back to Mississippi where she met Her next Shepherd Pastor Roscoe Shields of Another Branch of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in West Point Mississippi Which She and her family was a part helping to Start. Even after distance separated them, Pastor Husband remained her trusted spiritual shepherd throughout the remainder of her life.

Bettye loved studying God’s Word. She spent countless hours reading the Bible, strengthening her faith, and preparing her heart for the soon return of Jesus Christ. She lived with the blessed hope of Christ’s Second Coming and looked forward to the day when God’s faithful children will be raised to everlasting life.

She leaves to cherish her precious memory:

Her devoted husband, Harold “Harry” James Simmons

Her beloved children

Her cherished grandchildren

Her treasured great-grandchildren

Her loving siblings Vera Gray Husband & Robert Eugene Gray

A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends whose lives were forever blessed by knowing her.

She was preceded in death by:

Her beloved parents, Willie Sam Gray and Estelle Warren Gray

Her brothers and sisters who have gone on before her.

Though our hearts are heavy with sorrow, we rejoice in the blessed hope found in Jesus Christ. We look forward to that glorious day when the trumpet of God shall sound, Christ shall return, and Bettye will rise again to eternal life.

Until that wonderful morning, she rests peacefully in the loving care of her Savior, awaiting the resurrection promised in God’s Word.

Her kindness, unwavering faith, wisdom, generous spirit, and unconditional love will forever remain in the hearts of all who were blessed to know and love her.

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” —

Revelation 22:20