Mrs. Otelia Burl Simmons was born July 9, 1922 in Winston-Salem, NC to Fred and Crussie Spaugh Burl. She passed Thursday, July 24, 2008 at the Springwood Care Center.

She was a retired domestic worker and was a member of Carver School Road Church of Christ.

Otelia was preceded in death by her beloved father and mother, Fred and Crussie Burl; one sister, Rose Priestley; three brothers, Charles, Wilbert, and Ralph Burl; one son, Tommie Lee Simmons; a grandson, Kurtis Le'Grant Mobley, Sr.; and a devoted daughter-in-law, Lola Mae Simmons.

She leaves to cherish her memories two devoted daughters, Malvernia (Darrly) Rolle and Vanessa (James) Chisholm; three sons, Grady and Haven Simmons both of Winston-Salem, NC and Milford (Karen) Simmons of Virginia Beach, VA; two sisters, Nannie Davis and Hortense (Charles) Clary of Virginia Beach, VA; sixteen grandchildren; two step grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; eleven great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; a devoted play daughter, Elma Hopkins; in Christ, a host of very devoted sisters, brothers, and children from Carver Road Church of Christ.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm Thursday, July 31, 2008 from the Carver School Road Church of Christ with Brother Cloys R. Cecil, Sr. officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 1:30pm until 2pm on Thursday at the Church.

The family would like to acknowledge Mrs. Simmons devoted caretaker, Jeanette Wilson and would like to thank Hospice and the entire staff at Springwood Care Center at Station Four.