Irene Hiatt Simmons

Irene Hiatt Simmons, finished her earthly journey after reaching her goal of turning 100 and entered into the more immediate presence of her Lord on Sunday, December 11, 2022. She was born in Carroll County, Virginia, on December 3, 1922, to the late Edward and Earsley Boyd Hiatt. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband, Thomas Sandy Simmons. Mrs. Simmons leaves to cherish and honor her memory one daughter, Robin Lyn Simmons, of Mount Airy, and a sister Naomi H. Venable of Clemmons, NC. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Susan W. Hiatt of Greenville, NC. She was preceded in death by sisters, Mildred Hiatt Bondurant and Delphia Fenton Hiatt, and a brother, Edward Carlman Hiatt. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews who loved their Aunt Irene. Mrs. Simmons graduated from Radford Teachers’ College (now Radford University) in 1941 and taught elementary school in Roanoke, Virginia for 3 years. In 1944 she moved to Mount Airy and enjoyed a long teaching career at Bannertown Elementary, Flat Rock Elementary, and Jones Elementary. Mrs. Simmons was teaching at Flat Rock Elementary in February of 1957 when the tragic fire occurred. She and Sandy Simmons were married in 1948 and were happily married until Sandy’s sudden death in1964. Irene was baptized at an early age at Willow Hill Moravian Church in Ararat, Virginia, by Rev. Charles D. Crouch. She became a member at Grace Moravian Church in Mount Airy in 1967. During her faithful membership at Grace Moravian she was a member of the John Walker Sunday School class, a member of the Women’s Fellowship (Spaugh-Pfohl Circle), and a member of the Knitting Ministry, in which she had many cherished friendships. Irene began volunteering (as a “Pink Lady”) at Northern Hospital of Surry County and did so for 37 years until June of 2017. The family will receive visitors on Wednesday, December 14, at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of Grace Moravian Church in Mount Airy, North Carolina, and followed by the funeral service at 12:00 noon conducted by Rev. Robert Wolfe and Rev. Bob Peterson. Burial will follow in God’s Acre. The family requests that flowers be omitted, and memorials be made to the John Walker Sunday School Class or to Grace Moravian Church, 1401 North Main Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030. The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff of RidgeCrest and the staff of Mountain Valley Hospice for the love and care given to Irene. Due to the rise in Covid cases in our area, we would kindly recommend masks be worn.  Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.