SIMMONDS

She fought a good fight, but God loved her best and she now rests in his loving arms. She will always be missed.

Bertha Osbey Simmonds, 85, was called by God to come to her heavenly mansion Friday, Aug. 9, 2013.

Missionary Simmonds, who was a resident of Bogalusa, was born in Tylertown, Miss., on July 12, 1928, to Oliver and Mattie Lenards Osby.

She leaves to cherish her memory two sisters, Vergie Osbey Scott and Alice (Raymond) Smith, both of McComb, Miss.; four brothers, Leslie Osbey of New Orleans, Oscar J. (Marie) Osbey of Perris, Calif., Micheal (Janice) Osbey and Paul (Dian) Osbey, both of Magnolia, Miss.; one aunt, Malissa Osbey Flowers of Chicago; a devoted, loving caregiver, her niece, Phyllis Jackson; her great-niece, Uhneqa Young; special nephews, L.B. (Phyllis) Jackson and L.S. Jackson, both of Bogalusa, Vernell (Minnie) Wilbert of Slidell and C.L. Peters of Cincinnati; her godchildren, Trina Lamb, Antoinette Lamb and Valerie Lamb, all of New York, and Missionary Carolyn Turner of Bogalusa; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Louis A. Simmonds; her parents, Oliver and Mattie Lenards Osbey; five sisters, Tommie Lee Peters Wilbert, Annie Ruth Peters, Ethel Osbey Brown, Lucille Osbey and Carolyn Ann Osbey; five brothers, Valmone Peters, the Rev. L.C. Peters, Stenis Peters, Charles M. Osbey and Bennie Osbey; and her aunt, Rosa Allen.

Visitation will be held Saturday, Aug. 17 at Cook-Richmond Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until time for the funeral service at noon in the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Lemuel Holloway officiating. Interment will follow at Bogalusa Cemetery.

Sign the guestbook at www.cookrichmondfuneralhome.com.