On a Mission to Uplift the Delta
Sen. Sarita Simmons grew up in Cleveland in a family prominently involved in the political world. Her mother, Rosie Simmons, made history as the first African American Circuit Clerk in Bolivar County since Reconstruction, a position she held for twenty years. Her father, Willie Simmons, dedicated twenty-six years to the Mississippi State Senate before becoming Central District Transportation Commissioner in 2020. She has three brothers: Christopher, Avery and Reginald.
Simmons earned a B.S. in Educational Psychology from Alcorn State University. Shortly after graduating, she moved to the state of Georgia. She built a career in education and behavioral health during her time there. After spending a few years in Georgia, Simmons returned to the Mississippi Delta to manage the family-owned restaurant, The Senator’s Place.
“I took an interest in politics after coming back to the Delta,” says Simmons. “Before stepping into the world of politics, I spent eighteen years managing the restaurant. I loved working with the public. It gave me a real understanding of dealing with different individuals and personalities, as well as facing challenges on a daily basis.”
When her father’s Senate seat opened in 2019, he was a bit surprised when his daughter came to him expressing the desire to run for the Senate. “She had a notebook with about forty questions she wanted to ask me,” recalls Commissioner Simmons. “After winning the election, I have really been impressed with her. During her first year, she passed a bill I couldn’t get passed by the Senate and the House in ten years. It provided more per diem funding to increase the regional jails for housing state offenders.”
Since taking office, Simmons has been a champion for education, youth programs, corrections, tourism and healthcare. She’s helped secure funding for Grammy Museum Mississippi, the B.B. King Museum, the Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Center, Terrene Landing, Delta State University, Mississippi Delta Community College and municipalities throughout the district.
As the first African American woman to represent District 13, which includes Bolivar, Sunflower and Tallahatchie counties, she is now serving her second term. She serves as the Vice Chairman of Investigate State Offices Committee and serves on several key committees, including Education, Appropriations, Tourism, Agriculture, Corrections, Housing and Labor.
Growing up in the Delta, Simmons saw the challenges in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. She also saw how important it was to have a good infrastructure to support all those things.
Managing The Senator’s Place for eighteen years gave Simmons an opportunity to connect and interact with many people, both locals and people from all over the country. This involvement allowed her to network and display her friendliness and willingness to empower her community.
She decided to run for the Senate because she felt a deep calling to serve her community and the state as a whole. “My background in behavioral health, education, and business taught me how to take charge and identify problems, find solutions and stand up for what’s right,” she says. “I’ve always had a passion for helping people. Those are some of the reasons I ran for the Senate because it gave me an opportunity to make an impact for the community, district and the state as a whole.”
Sunflower County Supervisor Glenn Donald refers to Sen. Simmons as “a jewel for the Delta”. “She came in strong because of her father’s legacy, but she’s proven herself in her own right,” he says. “When Sunflower County needed help, she worked across party lines to get things done. She doesn’t just submit requests and wait; she fights for them. She’s always reachable, she follows through and she’s a blessing to the Mississippi Delta.”
As a Black Democratic woman in a Republican-majority Senate, Simmons knows the challenges of working across party lines, but she stays focused on the bigger picture. “I work across the aisle,” she says. “I’m fortunate to be in a position to build relationships and get resources that serve the Delta. Regardless of party, I’ve created meaningful relationships, as well as friendships. That’s the most rewarding part —being able to make an impact.”
Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, Chairwoman of the Mississippi Senate Tourism Committee, admires Simmons’ dedication. “She understands how vital tourism is to the Delta economy,” says Chassaniol. “We’ve worked together to promote Grammy Museum Mississippi and attract more tourists. We’re also working to improve flight access to Greenville. Beyond tourism, she’s passionate about healthcare. We recently toured the Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Center under construction in Ruleville. It will be a crucial resource, especially for breast cancer patients. Sarita is thoughtful, driven and deeply invested in making the Mississippi Delta better.”
Cleveland Mayor Billy Nowell said both father and daughter are involved in making the Delta a better place. “Anything to do with the Chamber of Commerce or the Grammy Museum, she and her father are both right in the middle of it,” says Nowell. “We truly appreciate their leadership here. I think the world of them. She is doing a great job for Cleveland, Bolivar County and all the Delta. She serves us well in her job in Jackson and is a great civic leader in Cleveland.”
Simmons says it is not possible to get things done at the Legislature without the help of her colleagues. One of her favorite things about her job is being able to sit with constituents, hear their concerns and deliver for them. “This is important to me because it shows them that I am accessible and elated to serve,” she says.
Balancing public service with personal responsibilities hasn’t always been easy. In late 2022, her mother suffered a major stroke, and Simmons found herself constantly traveling between Jackson and home to be by her side. Gratefully, her mother has made a strong recovery.
She has great respect for her parents.
“My lovely parents have shared fifty-two beautiful years of marriage, an epitome of love, dedication and service,” says Simmons. “Beyond their professional achievements, my parent’s lives have been defined by their compassion and strength. They both are a testament of faith, perseverance and commitment, which continue to inspire me every day.”
Outside of politics, Simmons enjoys tapping into her creative side. She loves painting, repurposing furniture and tackling DIY projects. “This past fall, I attended a ceramic workshop with the Delta Arts Alliance at Delta State University’s ceramics studio,” she says. “It was such a rewarding experience. I’ve always loved decorating and trying out new things.”
From running a family restaurant to serving in the Mississippi Senate, Simmons has always been driven by a simple mission: To uplift her community. “Helping people and making a difference is what keeps me going,” says Simmons.