- Date Of Birth: February 19, 1931
- Date Of Death: March 27, 2020
- State: Georgia
Joseph Leander Simmonds aka “Mr. Joe and Simmo” was the youngest born on February 19, 1931, on Frederiksted St. Croix, USVI to Alexander Simmonds and Veronica Aaron Simmonds. He was preceded in death by his sisters Althea Simmonds John and Anne Simmonds Schou, and brothers Lawrence and Louis Simmonds. He attended Saint Patrick Catholic School in Frederiksted and upon his graduation from high school, he moved to Puerto Rico to live with his sister Anne and studied Accounting before he enlisted in the United States Army, having served during the Korean War from 09/1951 to 09/1953 Rank: Private First Class.
After his years of service, he returned to the US Virgin Islands and moved to the island of St. Thomas to work and met his wife Maria Clause Simmonds and they had six children Roberto, Nyda (deceased), Jose, Melissa, Joseph (Joe) and Laurice. Joe took advanced classes in accounting and worked as a Governmental Accountant for Virgin Islands Housing and Community Renewal as the Deputy Director of Business and Management of the entire US Virgin Islands until his retirement in1982. Upon retirement, he stayed busy as a Tax Accountant and worked part-time as a US Customs Officer at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas to be close to his wife Maria “Baba” who worked at American Airlines.
In addition, his past-time included caring for his grandchildren, foster children, and traveling. Eventually, Joe became a caregiver to his wife Maria in the challenges she faced as a type II diabetic. On September 27, 2017, after two category five hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the Virgin Islands, Joseph evacuated to Fayetteville, Ga along with his wife Maria and daughter Melissa where he resided until his passing with his daughter Laurice. Over the years, he has fought and overcame various ailments. Several things remained an integral part of him, his catholic faith, his love for his family, a great sense of humor, good island food, and his zest for life. He was a father to many.
He is survived by his wife Maria, children Roberto, Jose (Leslieann), Melissa, Joseph, and Laurice (Eric). adopted children: Genevieve Allen, Leslie “Q-Ball” Smith, Debra Cuffy, Maritza Stephens, Aleth Toussaint, & Matthew Joseph; nephew: Homer D. Cornelius, cousin: Angela Durant; sister-in-law Janice Clause-Stephens; brother-in-law Rudolph Clause; Grandchildren: Symra Chinnery Wilkinson (Everette), Nyda, Cinque, Leilani, Jasmine, and Angela Simmonds. Special Friends: Diana Avery, Toi Barbel, Clifton, Yvette, and Vernon Finch and many other relatives include Patricia Blake-Simmonds, Ruth Brannigan, and Dunlop, Milliners, Attles, Seargants, Breedy, Johnsons, Jacksons families, too numerous to mention. Josephs was given many many nicknames: Joe, Mr. Joe, Simmo, Bossman, Casanova, Pops, “Handsome”, and “Newsy” because he loved CNN.
