Geneva (Perry) Simon

In July of 1941, after the smoke from the Fourth of July's Roman Candle Candles, Black Cat Firecrackers and sparklers cleared, Geneva Perry graced the world with her arrival  on July 5.  She was the first child born to Vircha Ree Cooper Perry and S.L. Perry.

Geneva accepted Christ as her savior and was baptized at Union Prairie Baptist Church.  She was raised by her grandmother, Novella Cooper, along with her aunts, Albertine and Bernice, and attended school at Union Prairie and Williams High. While growing up, when other girls were playing with dolls, cooking and sewing, Geneva would be found playing basketball or shooting marbles with her brothers.

After graduating from high school in 1959, Geneva enrolled at Prairie View A&M University.  She quickly became acquainted with the campus and everyone knew her.  She had a hard time keeping up with her meal card and became the first student to be allowed to eat without one.  After securing her Bachelor's degree in Home Economics with a minor in Education, she began teaching at Williams High.  She later taught at Sam Houston Elementary School in Crockett.  At some point, she went back to Prairie View and obtained a Master's degree in special education.

Although she had a degree in Home Economics, cooking was not a top priority for Geneva.  She could take a few pieces of summer sausage or a few wieners and crackers and make a meal. This was a major concern for her aunts, Aaron, Bernice and Albertine, when she had children.  They were concerned because they knew that newborns could not digest processed meat at an early age.  In 1972, Geneva was united in matrimony with Viell Simon. They were blessed with two wonderful daughters; LaTonya and Rosalyn.

In 1975, Geneva relocated to Houston and began teaching at Thomas J. Pilgrim Elementary in the Houston Independent School District. Throughout her tenure, she touched the lives of many children including Senator Lloyd Benson's grandson, Jennifer Holiday's yonger brother, and many others. Her motto was, "There is no child,m regardless of his or her disability, that cannot learn."  Simple tasks such as learning to tie a shoe,  write a name, recognizing a shape or colors, were marked as successe.  Geneva remained at Pilgrim Elementary until the early 2000's, when she retired and moved back to Crockett.  While living in Houston, she became a member of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Ameal Jones,  She was very active in the Mission, Sunday School and Christian Education.  She remained a member until she retired and moved back to Crockett.

After re-establishing her membership at Union Prairie, she was very active with the cemetery beautification and participated in ministry/mission activities at the local and state levels. She was also involved in the WIlliams High School annual reunion and any other activity that involved meeting and greeting people. She was also partially responsible for the financial success of Walmart at she shopped there so often.

Geneva was very, very, very intuitive. She could sense issues that had not been made public, particularly with her siblings (mostly brothers), nieces and nephews. She would ask just the right questions to arrive at the answer she was seeking. She then became your biggest advocate to get a resolution. Petite in size, she was given the nickname of "Little Woman" by her brothers. However, her persona gave off the size of an Amazon woman.

On Saturday, October 25, 2025, the family lost a sage, a teacher, and a friend. Her presence will never be replaced. She was preceded in transition by her parents, bonus father (Charlie Price), son-in-law (LaShawn Raleigh), granddaughter (RaShaunda Raleigh), grandson (Caleb Miller), brothers (Sammie Perry, George Perry, Charlie Fred Price, Willie Edd, Ruzzell, Alfred Lee Price), sister (Paula Price), and two sisters-in-law (Ella Ree and Hortense Price).

Left with memories and hearts full of thankfullness are her children, LaTonya Miller (George) and Rosalyn Raleigh; grandchildren: Dayan Miller (Ellecia), Davion Miller, Christian Raleigh, ShawnJa and KaShawn Raleigh; great-grandchildren: Aubrey, Aryn, and Aliya Miller; bonus children: Lois Martin, Gloria Simon, Freddy, David, Reginald, and Viell Simon, Jr.; brothers: Donald Price (Elouise), Rev. Floyd Price, Delbert Price (Barbara), and Tommy Perry; sisters: Shirley Lovelady (Rev. James), Bobbie Perry, Elnetha Robbins, LaWanda Barnes (Stephen) and Vanessen Perry; sisters-in-law: Ruby Price and Ester Perry, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, former students, and fellow laborers in education.

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