Born March 18, 1920, Elizabeth Lea Harralson Simmons was a true Georgia Peach, a typically genteel—but sturdily independent--“girl raised in the South.” Known as Beth to friends and family, she was born at the original downtown location of Piedmont Hospital to Louis Cozart Harralson and Clementine LeVert Harralson. She died August 26, 2010, at her home at Clairmont Place in Decatur, age 90. Beth grew up in Inman Park, graduated from Girls High and attended Atlanta Junior College (later Georgia State University), where she was a member of Chi Rho Sigma sorority. As a young woman she worked in the finance division of First National Bank of Atlanta. In June 1942 she married Malcolm Freeman Simmons while he was finishing medical school at Emory University. Upon his graduation, Beth accompanied Freeman to Queens, New York, where the newly minted medical doctor and lieutenant was assigned to oversee the outfitting of the medical suite aboard the USS Henry W. Wiley while it was being built at the nearby Brooklyn shipyard. During their stay in New York, Beth would go food shopping every day. She loved to share the story about the butcher that never failed to say “Here comes my Georgia Peach” as he reached under the counter and pulled out the aluminum foil (which was scarce and in high demand during the war) that he had hidden away and saved just for her! After Freeman was deployed to the Pacific, Beth moved back to her parents’ Inman Park home to await his return. In 1946 she gave birth to a son, Richard Freeman, followed in 1952 by a daughter, Linda Louise. The couple settled in Decatur, where Freeman opened a medical practice just a few blocks from the Decatur Square. He became one of the community’s leading general practitioners, which is those days meant, outside of office hours, making house calls, regular hospital rounds and birthing babies in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, Beth complemented her husband’s duties through active participation in the Women’s Auxiliary of the DeKalb County Medical Society. She served in many roles including president and vice president and provided valuable artistic input into the creation of award-winning auxiliary projects. She developed her natural talent for painting by taking art lessons from several professionals over the years and Beth Simmons original works in oil, watercolor and pastels give great pleasure still to many friends and family members. In 2004 she cleverly put her God-given talent to work for the Lord; she painted a watercolor of an 1897 view of the Old Sanctuary of her beloved Decatur First United Methodist Church, and sold prints to members and others to raise needed funds for the church. Both Beth and Freeman were active members there since joining in 1949. She was a long-standing member of the Kerr Friendship Class, for which she planned and hosted many special-occasion socials. These were an outlet for yet other of Beth’s passions, cooking and entertaining. Her home was the setting for many a themed dinner party, according to where their travels had taken them. Among their foreign stops were countries in Britain, Europe and Asia. Beth was a charter member of the Heaton Park Garden Club, several bridge clubs, and was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution. In addition to her parents, Beth was predeceased by her husband of more than 56 years, Dr. Freeman Simmons, and sister and brother-in-law Laurette and Charles deJarnette of Decatur. She is survived by her son Dr. Richard Simmons and wife Deanna of Lawrenceville and her daughter Linda Simmons Brass and husband Robert of Newnan. She is also survived by six grandchildren and their spouses: Kelley and Will Hammock, Buford; Kathryn and Brian White, Lawrenceville; Scott and Kimberly Simmons, Dacula; Rob and Sally Brass, Newnan; Matt and Maegan Brass, Newnan; Elizabeth and Christopher Almon, Macon. In addition, Beth leaves seven great grandchildren: Caroline, J.D. and Reid Brass, Bryn and Dylan Hammock, Zachary Simmons and Aubree White. She also leaves nephews, nieces, cousins, and many special friends, both American and British. The family extends sincere thanks to Beth’s loving caregivers from Atlanta Home Care Partners, Triphena Foster, Audrey Kornegay, Rene Thompson-Symonds and Tia Crandol, and Odyssey Hospice. Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 4:00 P.M. in the chapel of A. S. Turner & Sons with Dr. David Naglee, Bishop L. Bevel Jones and Rev. John Simmons officiating. Interment, Decatur Cemetery. Those wishing to may make contributions to Decatur First United Methodist Church, 300 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030, or The United Methodist Children’s Home, Inc., 500 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30030. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3:30 P.M. Sunday at A. S. Turner & Sons. (404) 292-1551.
