Minister Shirley Simmons, a woman of profound faith and steadfast grace, transitioned from this life leaving a legacy of service that spanned from Aurora, Illinois, to Eastman, Georgia. Born to the late Eddie and Mattie (Bass) Simmons, her character was forged in a home defined by the community stewardship of the Ebonairs Club. Following her graduation from West Aurora High School in 1966, she pursued her education at Fort Valley State University, marking the commencement of a lifetime dedicated to the spiritual and emotional elevation of others.

A dedicated servant of the Word, Minister Simmons possessed a deep, Messianic understanding of Jesus Christ. Although she was an ordained minister of significant wisdom, she walked with a quiet humility, choosing to be known simply as "Ms. Shirley." Her life’s work was a ministry of restoration; she established Healing Hearts Ministries in Atlanta during the 1990s and later co-founded the online sanctuary, Women of Prominence Ministries, in 2020. Her commitment to her calling was further solidified by her 2012 graduation from Philadelphia Bible College, ensuring she remained a pillar of strength and a vessel of divine comfort for all who sought her counsel.

The gravity of her loss is felt most deeply by the family she nurtured with unwavering devotion. Her legacy is carried forward by her four children: Christopher Edwards (Cynthia Mitchell) of Dallas, Texas; Karsten Edwards (Lasonya Edwards) of Rex, Georgia; Tiffany Noller (James Noller) of Franklin, Ohio; and Nicholas Edwards of Stockbridge, Georgia. She was the venerable matriarch to eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, each of whom represented her greatest earthly joy. She is also survived by her four siblings—Eddie Ruth Jackson, Catherine Muhammad, Jacqueline Simmons, and Eddie Sundiate Simmons—who remain bound to her by an eternal and sacred bond.

The community will gather to pay their final respects on June 5, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Hamilton-Burch Funeral Home, 140 Park St., Eastman, Georgia. A formal celebration of her life and ministry will be held on June 6, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Faith In Action Baptist Church, 1046 College St., Eastman, Georgia. Minister Simmons will be interred upon the family property, with a fellowship repast to follow at First Action Baptist Church. Her life remains a solemn testament to a calling well-answered and a faith that endured.