Douglas Simmons

Douglas Simmons was born in East Meadow, New York to the parents of Dorothy and Julius Simmons Jr. on October 4, 1961. He was the second of four children. Douglas attended the First Baptist Church in Lindenhurst, New York where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized.

Douglas became a drummer and played in the band at the Niagara Elementary School in Lindenhurst, New York. He also attended Lindenhurst Senior High School where he continued to play the drums and was a member of the marching band. Douglas loved sports and was a member of the wrestling team where he wrestled in the 165-pound weight class. He also played varsity football in his senior year. In 1979, he graduated and followed in the footsteps of his older brother Keith, who entered the military the previous year. Douglas joined the United States Coast Guard where he served for two years as an Electrician. Due to medical issues, he was honorably discharged in December of 1981 and returned to live with his parents in New York. Douglas attended one semester of college at SUNY Farmingdale.

In 2005, the family moved to Cleveland, Georgia. Shortly thereafter, Douglas became a resident at the Eagles Nest Nursing Home in Decatur, Georgia. While at the nursing home, Douglas never complained about his housing situation even when he became a double amputee years later. He was always happy go lucky and had a positive attitude. His parents visited him every Sunday, taking him out for lunch, bathing him and then reading the bible with him before they departed. It was definitely the highlight of his week. Douglas also looked forward to his parents accompanying him to all of his doctor appointments.

In October of 2019, Douglas was relocated to the state of Texas where his sisters Carla and Cathy resided. He became a resident of Hacienda Oaks Nursing Home in Seguin, Texas. He was visited everyday by his two sisters who provided him with his favorite meals such as pizza, hamburgers and fries, taco bell and coffee. In July, he was moved to the Kirkwood Manor Nursing Home in New Braunfels, Texas. Douglas was waiting for his parents to also relocate from Georgia to Texas so the family could be together.

Douglas enjoyed smoking, drinking coffee, singing along with his mother and sisters during visits and eating! He was a gentle soul who was a caring and loving son and brother. On many occasions, he would tell his parents, “I’m praying for you and I love you.” While in hospice, prior to his passing, he reflected over his life and shared his thoughts with his parents and his sister Carla. He told Carla that “he had a good life” unaware that he was diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer. Douglas was loving and in good spirits right until the end. He passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Douglas Simmons leaves to cherish his memories, his parents Dorothy and Julius Simmons Jr of Cibolo, TX; two sisters; Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Carla Annette Simmons of Cibolo, TX and Cathy Simmons of Brooklyn, NY; his one nephew Tyshawn Julius Simmons of Colorado Springs, Co; two nieces Nakia Ashley Simmons and of Cibolo, Tx and Chanell Lashawn Simmons of San Antonio, Tx; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives and special friends.