Gail Fortenberry Simmons

March 9, 2019

Funeral service will be held Sat., March 16, 2019 at 11 a.m. in Pleasant Valley Baptist Church for Gail Fortenberry Simmons, age 65, of Picayune, MS. She died on March 9, 2019 in Highland Community Hospital.

The Rev. Donald Parker will officiate at the service. Burial will be in the Picayune Cemetery. A native of Picayune, Gail graduated from George Washington Carver High School and was accepted into Tougaloo College, where she gained a degree in Architect/Planner and later joined the United States Army. 

She was a member of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Gail served in many capacities; Superintendent of Sunday School Review, Assistant Sunday School Teacher, worked with the Youth Department, and anywhere else needed in the church. 

Survivors include her husband, Tommie Simmons of Picayune; a son, Kirby Fortenberry, Montgomery, AL; a granddaughter, Amber Taylor Collins;  2 stepdaughters, Cynthia Spriggs, Picayune and LaSonja Merrill, Fort Worth, TX; mother, Ema Fortenberry, Picayune; a sister, Faye Myers Jackson, Picayune; 4 brothers, Holice Fortenberry Jr. and Kenneth Fortenberry, Picayune, Marty Fortenberry, Jackson, MS and Jeffery Fortenberry, Meridian, MS; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. 

Preceded in death by her father, Holice Fortenberry Sr; aunt, Judith Fair and numerous aunts and uncles; stepson, Timothy Merrill. Visitation will be Sat., March 16, 2019 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. in Pleasant Valley Baptist Church under the direction of Baylous Funeral Home.