Sherri Jajuanda Simmons

Remembering Sherri

Sherri Jajuanda Simmons was born September 15, 1960 to Elmore "Bobby" Barnes and Henrietta A. Newton-Smith in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was her mother's oldest child.  She transitioned to be with God on March 18, 2018 in Wichita, KS. 

Sherri was known for being very resilient and strong. The type of person who despite having a rough life always smiled. Throughout her life she had chronic pain and survived through several nearly fatal accidents.  She was never one to complain about her condition to anyone. 

Her smile and laugh were her greatest attributes along with her belief in the good in some of society’s most forgotten people. She spent a vast majority of her adult life in poverty yet everyone that she came in contact with knew she would give her very last if she saw a need.  She would go without frequently if it meant to help her fellow man.

Sherri was an awesome athlete passing along strong genetic genes to her offspring. You can bet that if she took off her shoes you knew you were in for an exhausting race. She was tough, gritty and never gave up no matter how bad things looked. We all could learn a lot about what it looks like to face death and yet be so strong.

She was preceded in death by: her father, Elmore "Bobby" Barnes; and her brother, Clement Simmons.

She leaves behind her loving family: two children, her son, Joseph M. Pippins Sr. (Jennifer); and her daughter, Tashia M. Richards; three grandchildren Joseph Jr.; Jada; Jasmine; her mother, Henrietta A. Newton-Smith; her siblings, Tito; and Rikki; her aunts, Rosetta Milsap; and Shirley Blanton; a host of nieces and cousins including Treasa and Tony Bowers, all whom cared for her dearly.

Your smile brought joy to my heart like nothing else on this planet. It was an honor and privilege to be your son. I thank you for life and I thank you for allowing me care for you and for speaking to my heart each time, I could always tell when you were lonely and I could feel your despair and how people looked at you and treated you because of the scars you had from the accident. You handled it with as much dignity and grace. I’m so in awe of how you overcame so much and bounced back each time.  I pray God allows you into the best rooms in heaven. He will let you view the best views in heaven and smell the finest roses. God please accept my mom into your everlasting eternity and bless her legacy and use her for the strengths you know she has. Bless her essence, and I have and love you forever more momma. Know that your energy and your presence on this earth has never been the same. From the bottom of my heart and everyone in our family we love and miss you so dearly!

Your son, Joseph Pippins 

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