Obituary: Carol Rouse Simmons
Carol Rouse Simmons passed away with her husband, Gerald Simmons, by her side at home on Monday, July 17, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina at age 86.
Carol Rouse was born to the late Robert Rouse and Margaret Lewis Rouse on June 20, 1937 in Lenoir County (Kinston). As a toddler her infant sister, Judith, passed away shortly after being born. Carol Rouse considered her cousins, Edward Lewis, who lived across the field and Sunny Rouse, who lived with her family for a time, her brothers, as well as all her Rouse cousins who played with her every week at their Grandmother and Granddaddy Rouse’s home. Her beloved brother in law, Curtis Simmons, and sister in law, Carolyn Outlaw Turner, were also close brother and sister.
We invite friends and family to gather for a Celebration of Life Service on Friday, August 4, at 3 pm in the large sanctuary at Temple Israel, 1109 West Vernon Avenue, Kinston, NC 28501. Immediately following the family invites all to stay and take part in a reception to honor Carol Rouse Simmons.
A private family graveside dedication of the head stone and a portion of Carol’s ashes will take place in Kinston in the fall. Another portion of her ashes will be spread at Shelter Neck UU Camp at the dedication of the ‘Carol Simmons Memorial Library’ when it reopens after its restoration is complete
As a lifelong Unitarian Universalist Carol met the love of her life, Gerald Simmons, at Shelter Neck Unitarian Universalist Camp in elementary school. They became close friends and dated off and on throughout high school and college. They married May 2, 1959. They remained devoted to each other for 64 years of marriage. Gerald and Carol had two children, Susan Simmons Wasilewski and Gregory Gerald Simmons. She is survived by her husband, Gerald, her two children, Susan(Andy) and Greg(Gray), grandchildren, Stefan and Mark Wasilewski, Skylar Simmons Taylor (Kendall), Robert Simmons, her very special brother in law and sister in law, Curtis and Carolyn. Nephews, Brian Simmons (Leslie) (Matthew, Nathan, Daniel) and Travis Simmons(Rebecca) (Bladen and Jaxon). She is also survived by god grandchildren, Stacy Ryan and Danrong Zhang (Xiangming Hu), god great-grandchildren, Anna and Katie Hu, Colin and Aiden Ryan, and her very special, devoted friend and companion, Delthea Simmons. She is greatly missed by a host of cousins and friends.
Carol Simmons attended Southwood School, East Carolina University, and Appalachian State University. Her undergraduate degree was in Home Economics with a minor in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Library Science. Her master’s thesis explored how to address censorship complaints and requests to deescalate the tension in the school environment peacefully. She spent 33 years teaching and serving as media coordinator at Southwood School and Kinston High School. She was a leader in technology innovation in Kinston High School and spoke locally, regionally, and nationally.
She loved reading, sewing, and antiquing with her wonderful, friend and cousin, Ann Stroud Sutton. She was devoted to the Kinston Unitarian Universalist Congregation, the Outlaw’s Bridge Universalist Church, Shelter Neck UU Camp, and faithfully attended local, regional and national church conferences. She was well known for her monologue of the first female preacher in Haywood County and possibly the first female preacher recognized in North Carolina, ‘Hannah Jewett Powell,’ a Universalist. She wrote articles for the Universalist Herald, and served on the Universalist Convention of North Carolina Board of Directors and as a Historian for the organization.
Carol Simmons faced Frontal Temporal Dementia with great determination. ‘Team Carol’ supported this through the amazing care from Beverly Medical Center, Raleigh Neurology, Holistic Mental Health, Apex, Duke Cardiology, Medicap Pharmacy/Compounding, The Key Home Health Care, Delthea Simmons, and family. We were fortunate to be able to care for her at home with the help of this amazing care team allowing for loving, safe care.
In lieu of flowers, Carol's family suggests donations to the "Carol Rouse Simmons Memorial Library at Shelter Neck".
Make checks payable to "Universalist Convention of North Carolina, Inc." and put "Carol Simmons Library Fund" in the memo field.
Mail checks to: UCONCI, 1670 NC Hwy 33 West, Chocowinity NC 27817
Or use PayPal link below:
https://shelterneckrecovery.weebly.com/donate.html
