Mary Neeson Simmons, 92, of Valley Ridge, Virginia, died Sunday, April 28, 2013 at Lewis Gale Ð Alleghany Hospital in Low Moor.

She was born June 6, 1920, in Benton, Louisiana, a daughter of the late Henry Grady Neeson, Sr and Eulalie Hanks Neeson.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William R. Simmons, in 2009, and also by three sisters.

Mrs. Simmons held a bachelors degree from Northwestern Louisiana State College and earned her masters degree from the University of Tennessee. She was a teaching dietitian for five years at the Delaware Hospital Nursing School in Wilmington. She later served for 19 years as the dietitian at the former Emmett Memorial Hospital in Clifton Forge and at Alleghany Regional Hospital. She was a Registered Dietitian with the American Dietetic Association.

She was a longtime member of Covington Baptist Church, where she taught the Joy Sunday School Class and served on the Women on Mission Committee. She was a former member of the Jackson River Garden Club and the Covington Woman's Club.

Surviving are her son, Dave Simmons of Roanoke; her granddaughter, Angela Mary of Florida; three great grandsons, Aaron, Tyler, and Jaxon, all of Florida; her brother, Henry Grady Neeson, of Shreveport, LA; several nieces and nephews, and her companion and caregiver, Carolyn Gilbert, of Covington.

The funeral service will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. Chris Poluikis officiating.

Entombment will be made in the Alleghany Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Active pallbearers will be selected from friends attending the service.

The family will receive their friends for one hour prior to service time at Arritt Funeral Home.

The family suggests that donations in Mrs. Simmons' name be made to the Future Needs Fund, Covington Baptist Church, P. O. Box 687, Covington, VA 24426.