Roddy – Leroy Thaxton Simmons, Jr., age 70, passed away Saturday, June 15, 2019, at his residence surrounded by his loved ones after a long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at 11:00 A.M. at Bethel Baptist Church. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Leroy, born in Hawkinsville on March 15, 1949, was the son of the late Leroy Thaxton, Sr. and Faustine Davis Simmons and was preceded in death by his brother George Clayton Simmons. He was Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corp. and worked at Robins Air Force Base from August 1985 until January 2012. He was a 1968 graduate of Cochran High School and a member of Limestone Baptist Church.

Of all the moments he has seen, and the time he has had, he lived out his years in Roddy with his sons, family, friends, and his dogs. Leroy was always calm in a storm, leaving not much to faze him. He was a proud father of two sons and three grandchildren. A stout believer in standing up for yourself and for what you believe in, he did not let people off easy. Leroy, an honorable man of his word, was a father-figure to many of his sons' friends and treated them like his own. Always quick to share a story and a simpler way of doing things, he coined his catchphrase of "Keep it simple stupid".

Survivors are his sons William Gilbert Simmons and Patrick Jordan Simmons of Roddy; grandchildren Luca Thaxton Simmons, Morgan Bedsaul and Aurora Clark; his sisters Frances Nell NeSmith of Cochran and Deborah Ann Simmons of Warner Robins.

The family is at 228 Old Bethel Road and will greet friends one hour before the service Tuesday at Bethel Baptist Church.