Ruth Abigail Neal Simmons

Mrs. Ruth Abigail Neal Simmons, 91, of Mount Airy, passed away Thursday evening, October 22, 2009, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. Mrs. Simmons was born December 7, 1917, in Stokes County, to the late Robert William and Hester Kallam Neal. Ruth retired from Pine State Knitwear after many years of service and was a faithful member of Holly Springs Baptist Church. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Sondra and Mark Folsom of Walnut Cove; a son, Steve Simmons of Advance; a stepdaughter, Juanita Anauo of Andalusia, AL; two stepsons and their wives, Frank and Crystal Simmons of Pilot Mountain and Raymond and Barbara Simmons of Atlanta, GA; three grandchildren, Linsey Bowman and her husband, Shane, of Rural Hall, Sarah White and Stacy Simmons, both of Advance; three stepgrandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Janie Minish of Watkinsville, GA; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Simmons was preceded in death by her husband, Hobert F. Simmons; a sister, Rachel Terrell; and two brothers, Robert Neal and John Neal. The funeral service will be held Sunday, October 25, 2009, at 2:00 PM at Holly Springs Baptist Church, with the Rev. Wayburn Moseley, the Rev. Jimmy Cain, and the Rev. Lanny Atkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Stoney Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Holly Springs Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030, or to Holly Springs Baptist Church, c/o Carol Mayes, 559 Hiatt Road, Mount Airy, NC 27030. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Ruth's neighbors, especially Mae Creasy, Grey and Ilene Boyles, and Scott, Marguerite, Michael, and Alyssa Jenson, for the special love, care, and compassion extended to her on a daily basis.