obituary Suzanne Gibson Simmons Seven Lakes

Suzanne Gibson Simmons, of Seven Lakes, NC, died peacefully at home on Friday, June 12, 2020 surrounded in love. She was 68.

Suzanne was born in Chattanooga, TN, on an early September day, Friday the 7th, 1951 to smitten parents, the late Herbert Martin Gibson and Peggy Sander Gibson who always remarked on her sweet countenance and the beautiful smile she held from birth. This same smile would captivate her future husband, Archie Corbitt Simmons, Sr. as students at East Carolina University. They married June 19, 1971 when she was still a student.

As a young girl Suzanne called many places home including Laurinburg, NC, Hunstville, AL, and North Palm Beach, FL before settling in Sanford, NC where she graduated from Sanford Central High School in 1969. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from ECU in 1973, Suzanne began her early career as an elementary school teacher, mostly in Moore County, NC. A natural teacher and advocate for discovery and reading she touched the lives of many students who as adults have remarked on the impact “Mrs. Simmons” left on them. Quite the entrepreneur, in addition to teaching she created the first ever floral and gift business for the Seven Lakes community called Bouquets, Boxes, and Bows with a close friend, and worked the past 20 years helping build a successful interiors career with her husband. Moving to Moore County in 1974 Suzanne called the community of Seven Lakes in the Sandhills of North Carolina home and raised her family there.

Suzanne held a creative spirit. She was an avid reader, an excellent cook, a devoted homemaker, and tender gardener. She loved the Lord and donated her talents and time to her church home, West End United Methodist Church, in many capacities. Undoubtedly, her greatest legacy will be her compassion and love for people, from strangers to friends and family, but most of all the little ones in life, her students, her nieces and nephews, and by far her grandchildren, who she adored with a perfect combination of structure and fun.

Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband Archie Simmons just one week shy of their 49th wedding anniversary, her devoted two sons, Archie Corbitt Simmons, Jr (Heather), of Australia, and Derek Nathaniel Simmons (Julia), of Pinehurst, NC; four grandchildren, the lights of her life, Emerson, Presley, Emmie and Will Simmons; four siblings, brothers Mart Gibson (Molly), of Southern Pines, Sander Gibson (Stacey), of Blowing Rock, Paul Gibson (Christa) of Columbus, GA and sister Anne Poarch (Andy), of Richmond, VA. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews; Mac Chatham (Chris), Alan Chatham, Henry and Bolling Poarch, Kathleen Gibson, and Mills, Jules, and Maddie Gibson; and great niece Avery Chatham, and great nephew Spencer Chatham.

Linda Suzanne Gibson Simmons took flight like the little birds she loved to watch in her backyard, joining her parents and leaving us to cherish her memory- and that beautiful smile, which accompanied her first breath and with which she took her last. She will be sorely missed on earth.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the West End United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 276, West End, NC, or to the American Cancer Society.

Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Seven Lakes.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

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