Ceremony held in downtown Cleveland
A very large crowd braved the cold weather Monday morning, as the City of Cleveland honored town resident and current Transportation Commissioner, Willie Simmons, with the unveiling of a special historical marker at an event which started at 11:00 a.m. The marker is at the corner of S. Bayou Ave. and South Street, near the caboose downtown.
“The City and our Board of Aldermen set this in motion about a year ago, and it’s wonderful to see this well-deserved honor for Willie Simmons finally come to fruition,” said former Cleveland Mayor, Billy Nowell, who was one of the speakers at the occasion. “Commissioner Simmons has done so much for Cleveland and Bolivar County for many years, in his current role, in his past government roles, as a businessman here in town and simply as an outstanding member of our community.”
Cleveland Mayor Paul Janoush, along with MDOT Executive Director, Brad White, also addressed the crowd, which included members of Simmons’ immediate family as well as dignitaries from around the Delta and as far away as Jackson.
Simmons thanked God, his siblings, his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, friends and associates during his acknowledge speech, after Janoush and Powell unveiled the marker to a round of extended applause. “It is special for me to be honored in this manner,” said Simmons. “Especially in the cold weather! Normally, individuals we honor are (no longer around) to experience such an occasion. As many of you say, ‘Why don’t give we flowers to those while they’re here?’ So, I’m especially grateful to Mayor Janoush, former Mayor Nowell, the Board of Aldermen and the citizens of Bolivar County for this very special day.”
Simmons, before being elected to his current position to the Mississippi’s Transportation Commission for the Central District, was also a former member of the State Senator, serving the 13th District from 1993 to 2020. His daughter, Sarita Simmons, who was present at the event, currently serves as State Senator for the same District her father did.
Holding numerous higher education degrees from Alcorn State University and Delta State University, Simmons also served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. The Democrat has held various high-level positions throughout his career.