Jean Simmons Joyner Bass

Jean Simmons Joyner Bass, 89, died Tuesday, September 1, 2020. She was born June 22, 1931 in Sebrell, Virginia, the daughter of the late Thomas Owen Simmons and Mary Alice Kitchen. She also was preceded in death by two husbands, Harvey M. Joyner, Sr. and Troy T. Bass; three brothers, Thomas Owen Simmons, Jr., Alfred Lee Simmons and Bobby Bell Simmons and two sisters, Alice Mae Simmons Pope and Joyce Isabella Simmons Comer.

Widowed at age 28, she returned to Jarratt High School to finish her senior year and was awarded a graduating diploma in June of 1962. Subsequent to her graduation, she worked several years as a clerical secretary for Lifsey Insurance Company in Emporia. She was a member of Purdy Baptist Church and a recent resident of the Eugene Bloom Retirement Center in Emporia.

Jean is survived by three sons, Harvey M. Joyner, Jr. and wife, Karen, John William Joyner and wife, Fran and Calvin Lee Joyner and wife, Eleanor; two grandsons, Joshua Joyner and Kyle Joyner; four granddaughters, Carmen Singleton, Sarah Ingram, Amanda Schnepp and Kendra Joyner Miller; two great-grandsons, Trevon Williams and Jaiden Singleton; three great-granddaughters, Roslyn Ingram, Olivia Ingram and Elizabeth Joyner Miller; her sister, Louise Simmons Tomlinson and a number of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.