Obituaries: Margaret Horton Simmons, 1993, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: April 7, 1993 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American Enterprise Society Editor's Presence Will Be Missed The Winn Parish Enterprise is this week experiencing the loss of a friend and long time co-worker, society editor Margaret Simmons who died suddenly this weekend. She had been part of the Winn Parish society all of her life, her father W. R. Horton having been the first professional agriculture teacher in the parish and her mother, Nellie Teagle Horton, a well known piano teacher. She worked for school superintendent Russell Terry, at Carey Salt Co., and at Tremont Lumber Company as secretary to the vice president and general manager and, since 1978, she had served in the freelance position of Society editor for the newspaper. She had done some work for the newspaper earlier. In a December, 1991 Enterprise feature, she explained that she was already bringing in news from her job as well as reports from Readers Review in which she was active. She was also active in AARP, Keenagers, and the Carey Salt Group. Former publisher Steve Colwell drafted her for the position from which she explained she broadened her horizons to take in the full scope of the local society news scene. She felt that society news-births, engagements, anniversaries, club news, deaths-serves not only to keep people aware of the happenings in their hometown but also to chronicle the history of the community. Family history researchers at the newspaper's library reinforce this concept almost weekly. Mrs. Simmons constantly brought her skills into play to produce the society news. Prospective brides would often return to the newspaper's bridal form with basic information which she would then transform into a finished wedding story, often telephoning to insure accurate details. Among her other work, her favorites seemed to be "Recipes with the Local Flavor" and "Past Tense." The recipes column, together with her comments, rounded up many of the community's best food ideas and were often presented with a special theme. "Past Tense," an ongoing feature of historic photos and news items, was compiled with the assistance of pressman Raymond Carpenter. "He dedication to her work was evident to the end," observed publisher Bob Holeman who said that Mrs. Simmons compiled the society news for the March 31 issued and was preparing for the April 7 issue at the time of her death. Obituary (same issue) Mrs. Margaret Simmons Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret Simmons will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home, Winnfield, with the Rev. Calvin Phelps officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories. Mrs. Simmons, 77, of Winnfield died Sunday in the Winn Parish Medical Center after a sudden illness. Born in Pleasant Hill, she spend almost all her life in Winnfield and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Winnfield. She had served as the Society editor for the Winn Parish Enterprise for the past 15 years and was active in Readers Review, AARP, Keenagers, and Carey Salt Group. She is survived by her husband, William Debs Simmons of Winnfield; one son, R. Hugh Simmons of Paoli, Pa.; one daughter, Deanna Hess of Livingston, Texas; three brothers, "Bill" Horton of Pensacola, Fla., John Horton of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Ed Horton of Tulsa, Ok.; one sister, Martile McBride of Columbus, Mont.; and three grandchildren, Rod Simmons, Steve Simmons, and Victoria Hess. Pallbearers are Rod Simmons, Steve Simmons, Raymond Carpenter, Jerry Weeks, Bob Hess and Bob Holeman. The family requests that memorials be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund. Friends may visit in the funeral home from 5 until 9 p.m. today and from 8 until service on Thursday.