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Obituary: James W. Simmons, Jr., Lafayette Parish Athletic Director and Friend of the Athletic Network Lafayette – Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Good Hope Baptist Church for James W. Simmons, Jr., Oct. 27, 1947 – May 11, 2025. Services will be conducted by Pastor Ricky E. Carter. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. James W. Simmons, Jr. was born on Monday, October 27, 1947, in Abbeville, LA as the firstborn of (Rev) James W. Simmons, Sr. and Wanda Armstrong Simmons. At 2:30 AM on Sunday, May 11, 2025, with his faith in the promises of his Heavenly Father firmly intact, a Heavenly Subpoena was issued to let James know that he could officially hang up his running shoes and that his work was done. As a devoted husband, loving father, community/public servant, a distinguished educator/leader, treasured colleague, mentor, and servant of the Lord, James wore many hats. He was affectionately known as “June” to his siblings, “Big Jim” by some colleagues, “JW” or simply “James” to others, but “Coach” was the name and title that nearly everyone knew him as. It was in his blood, and it defined who he was. James began his spiritual journey at an early age and was baptized by Reverend Dr. C. V. Jackson at Star Pilgrim Baptist Church in New Iberia, LA. A graduate of Jonas Henderson High School, he was member of the Baseball, Football and Track Teams, as well as Intramural Baseball sponsored by Iberia Parish Sheriff’s League. James great interest during adolescence was televised spectator sports, collecting baseball cards, and recording statistics for every sport, so much so until he could literally recite them from memory. His keen interest in furthering his education inspired him to attend Southern University, where he met and fell in love with a Lafayette girl, Mary Evelyn. They were united in marriage, and from this union, one daughter, Jamie, was born. Jamie was more than just his namesake. She was his pride and joy, his “shadow” “ride-or-die” “on-the-road-again” “tag-along” true Daddy’s girl. During and following his college enrollment and graduation, James served his country and was honorably discharged as a member of the Army National Guard. He began his teaching career at Crowley High School, and immediately dove into the coaching arena which ultimately shaped and defined his life’s vocation and passion. Not long after that first teaching assignment, Coach Simmons re-enrolled as a Graduate Student at his alma mater, and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision. Now he was prepared and poised to truly impact and influence youth athletics and sports, serving as a coach, mentor, leader, and advocate, not only for student athletes but fellow coaches. Although he assisted in football and basketball and helped lead the Acadiana High Wreckin’ Rams to a 10-0 regular season record, his specialty was track and field, where he won numerous meets, district and regional titles and state championship awards. He lived for and loved sports in every aspect, so knowledgeable that he became a highly sought out lecturer and workshop facilitator, serving on many local, state, and national committees overseeing the sport. This positioned him as the ideal candidate and in 1990, he was named the first Black Athletic Director for Lafayette Parish School System, where he dedicated more than three decades of his life to students and schools locally, statewide, and nationally as an administrator, coach, sporting official and mentor. His positive influence through leadership, sportsmanship, physical fitness, and outstanding accomplishments both on and off the field became his signature calling card in Louisiana and beyond. Just as he molded and inspired countless young people, they likewise became the inspiration that spurred him on to make significant contributions, such that he was inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in New Orleans in 2012 and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame in Orlando, FL in 2015. James excelled at the state and national levels. Nationally he served on the NIAAA Board of Directors, NIAAA Strategic Planning Committee, NFHS Hall of Fame Steering Committee, the AAU Infraction Committee and the NIAAA Hall of Fame Ad Hoc Committee, as well as the Louisiana liaison to the NFHS and the NIAAA. On the state level, he served twice as President of the LHSADA, the LHSAA Executive Committee, the LHSAA Hardship Committee, the Wheelchair Track Study Committee, and the School Relations Committee. He was the Running Referee at the LHSAA State Track & Field Championships. He was a past recipient of the Distinguished Service Award as well as State Athletic Director of the year. His passion for athletics was quite evident, as he traveled nationwide assisting and promoting high schools and even locally UL Lafayette and other institutions to thrive in the world of track and field, and along the way, making and maintaining contact with new and old mentees and colleagues. As a community and public servant, he was the recipient of numerous awards as he devoted himself to such noteworthy affiliations as past President of the MLK Annual celebration, Board member of LARC, Past President of Kiwanis Club of Southwest-Lafayette, organizer of youth summer programs, advocate and official for Special Olympics, and most recently, Compliance Officer / Auditor for Louisiana High School Athletics, a job he would continue to work until his illness. Moreover, as a proud Southern University graduate and Lifetime Alumni Member, he attended home and away games, and grew to become an avid tailgater (along with his brother Chris). He leaves precious and treasured memories in the hearts of his namesake and only child, Jamie M. Simmons; his siblings, Shirley S. Benoit, Claude R. Simmons, Sr., Rev. Mary S. Bashay, Christopher V. Simmons (Patricia), and Joyce S. Lewis, all of New Iberia; Sister-in-law, Barbara Robertson of Lafayette, LA; Brothers-in-law, John Horace Robertson and Elder Cleveland Davis of New Iberia; host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, colleagues, and friends. He was preceded to eternal glory by his loving wife, Mary Evelyn Robertson Simmons; his father and mother, Rev. James W. Simmons, Sr. and Wanda Armstrong Simmons; father and mother-in law, Luke Robertson, Sr. and Gertrude Robertson; siblings, LeRoy K. Simmons, John C. Simmons, Roscoe Clifton Simmons, and Barbara Simmons Davis. He was also preceded in death by his in-laws, Mary B. Simmons, Wilson Allen Benoit, Luke Robertson, Jr., Maxime Robertson, and Darrell Robertson, as well as his paternal grandparents, John and Louisa Simmons and maternal grandparents, Napoleon Armstrong and Mabel Green. The story of the life of Coach James W. Simmons, Jr. cannot be fully told here, but you can see it lived on in the lives of those whom he has touched. His life story is still being told by those of us who loved him and knew him. To our beloved Coach, Dad, Brother, Uncle, Relative, Colleague and Friend, the life you shared with us was a blessing. Your memory will forever be a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. Visitation will be held Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Good Hope Baptist Church from 8:00 a.m. until time of service. Public tributes will be from 9:45 a.m. until 10:50 a.m. Posted by Ed Dugas, May 16, 2025
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