Following her recent illness and struggle, with her health, our beloved Mother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin and Grandmother, Antonia Geraldine Simmons-Henley, entered into an eternal rest on February 1, 2018. A native of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Antonia made her grand entrance into this life, June 13, 1915, to the proud parents of Rufus Simmons and Altagracia Newton.

Part of mother’s childhood was spent attending primary school in St. Thomas. On the calling of her father, she made her way to New York City, where she continued her schooling, and blossomed into a full-fledged woman. She gave birth to her son, Leon Edward Thomas and later came her daughter, Danielle Crescente-Deleston. Mother later met and married Laurel Henley and from this union came her children Laurel Henley and Adalia F. Henley.

Mother never had a problem holding a job and keeping her family together. She spent her years working at a defense plant making parts for airplanes during World War II. She later was employed at the Famous Bonds Department store in New York City, as an Elevator Operator, where she went on to master the skills of a Switch Board Operator. Mother might have had pit falls in her life, but never once complained about her struggles; like a true soldier, she marched forward. Always on call like a doctor, tending to her family and anyone else who needed her. To know her, was to know her true strength, her warm smiles and gentle nature. Mother was a true and gentle soul, never to be replaced

Her Survivors

Daughters: Danielle Crescente -Deleston, Adalia F. Henley
Son: Laurel Henley, Jr
Grandchildren: Kim Anthony Jones, Beverly and Guy Thomas, Ericka Windley-Campfield, Jason Lee Crystal, Christine, Dawn, and Thor Johnson, Tiffany and Larry Henley 111, Lauren and Ashlyn Henley, Quentin Perry
Great-grandchildren: Najia Natalya Jones, Kevin and Alexis Campfield
Great-Great Grandchildren: Mia Drew Gulstin, Blake Goldstein
Newphews: Al-Malk Salahudin, Patrick Dunlop, Trent Attles, Jose Joseph and Tito Simmons
Great nephews: Kim, Robin, M. Kwame, and Tarique Ben-Salahuddin, Daryl and Craig Sargeant
Son InLaws: Cornelius F. Deleston, Kevin Campfield, Josh Ganderton, and James Richardson.
Daughter InLaws; Stephen Henley, Daffney T. Jones, Amber Perry
Brothers: Rudy and Graciano Clause
Sister: Maria Simmons
Brother In Law: Joe Simmons
Nieces; Dorothy Sargeant, Derese Harley, Laurice, and Melissa Simmons,
Grandnieces: Tracey -Hendrickson, Li-Ess Baptiste
*Other family members too many to mention.
Lovingly Submitted
The Family

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