Not Far From the Tree E-Book

Eric Otis Simmons

• Herausgeber: Eric Simmons Enterprises, Inc.
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

How does a child raised by a single-parent African American Mother go on to graduate in the “Top 10%” of his college class, walk-on and play college basketball, become President of his IBM sales training class, close sales of $1/2 million, $1 million, and $25 million in Paris, Brussels, and Hong Kong and self-publish a “Best Seller” book?  Fueled by his Mom’s mantra, “You can do anything if you put your mind to it,” and other “seeds of knowledge” ingrained in him by her, Eric Otis Simmons went on to accomplish all of the above and more!

In “Not Far From The Tree,” Simmons’ Memoir, he shares his life story through a series of smaller stories that range from shocking to calamitous to sorrowful to triumphing.  Eric takes you through how he stumbled across a court document revealing his Dad’s surname was actually Bailey and how off guard that caught him.  He jokes about the time his Grandmother caught him and his cousin peeing out of a window, and they both lived.  Simmons also opens up about the tragic loss of his daughter and the frightening night his Mother was assaulted at gunpoint and his ensuing years-long anger.  You'll walk down the hall with him through the secret tunnel underneath Alabama’s State Capitol where he meets Governor George Corley Wallace for the first time.  All he could think about was the Governor's infamous words, “Segregation now, segregation forever!”   Eric's insight into his remarkable career in Sales/Sales Management with Fortune 500 titans IBM, AT&T, GE, and MCI, reveals his strive for excellence centered around opening doors for other minorities.  Throughout his Memoir, Simmons masterfully ties together his Mother’s teachings with how he utilized them to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to achieve academic, athletic, and business success in Corporate America.

"If you love inspiration, heartfelt stories, and laughter, this book is right up your alley."
- Michael McCree (Best Selling Author – “Mind of a Superior Hitter: The Art, Science and Philosophy.”

“It’s a must-read for young and old who were or are being raised by a single parent. I give it 5 stars and plan to purchase more for sharing.”
- Linda F. Cunningham, MD

“It's a quick look into an accomplished man's life that will leave you inspired to be bold and go after the things you want in life.”
- Andrea Humpherys

Leseprobe

Not Far From The Tree

__________________

Eric Otis Simmons

The people and events in “Not Far From The Tree,” are based on my life experiences and are intended only to tell my story.

Not Far From The Tree

Copyright © 2017 by Eric Simmons Enterprises, Inc.

ISBN: 978-0692953303

This book is also available in print.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.

Dedication

In Loving Memory of Jean Wiletta Simmons

To my Mother, who was the sweetest, brightest and most caring person I’ve ever known. God put my Mom, one of his Angels, on this earth to care for, love, and nurture others. None benefited more from her love than I, who was touched daily by her bright light. I am comforted in the knowledge she is with God and in a place where she always wanted to be, and he is saying to her, “Servant of Mine, Well Done!”

And

To young black men and women who like me were/are raised by a single Mom. Keep your head up, eyes to the sky, believe in yourself, and to hell with people like George Karl who suggest not having a black Father around is a detriment!

Acknowledgements

To my beautiful wife, Cynthia. Thank you for being by my side these past 37 years. Without question, aside from my Mom, you are the most genuine person I’ve ever met. There's nothing fake or pretentious about you. I love and admire you for being "wired" that way. Thank you for being a great mother, a devoted Christian, and for being level headed and a calming influence for the kids and me. If more people on this earth walked life's path the way you do, the world would be a better place.

To my young adults, Derek, Dominique, and Kevin. Thank you for being obedient children (#Most of The Time) and for striving and dreaming of doing great things with your lives.

To those Relatives, Coaches, Teachers, Friends and Business Leaders who inspired and motivated me through example. Thanks for showing me, “What Good Looks Like.”

Preface

When I started writing my Memoir, my aim was to provide a “Leave Behind,” so to speak, for my young adults about their family history and reveal more about myself and my life’s work to them. God moves in mysterious ways, though. Just when I thought I had told my children “My Story,” I realized I had missed the mark. At the root of "My Story” is the motivation and determination embedded in me, a black man, by my black Mother – who raised me as a single Mom. It was through her and God; I managed to defy academic, athletic, business and social myths/stereotypes. Any success I've had in life, large or small, is primarily attributable to the infusion of "can do" instilled in me by my Mother. She is at the very core of “My Story.”

My goals for this Memoir are 1). Provide my young adults with information about their Family Tree and their Old Man. 2). Share "My Story” to inspire others, particularly young Black men and women raised by a single Mom. My hope is I give others the courage to try and do the unthinkable and not be afraid to come out of their comfort zone. I hope you will be bold enough to knock down walls and try new things in life, like I, such as writing a Memoir to tell your story.

Cognizant other black men have told “their story,” each of ours is unique, in its own way. Enclosed is my inimitable story.

Forward

by Kevin Simmons

I have had the honor to be alongside Eric Simmons in many aspects of my life. These include struggles, temptations, excitement, and many other facets of existence a person may go through. Specifically, an African American male in a society that still struggles with racism. This man’s story can be applied to many in the Black community, particularly male and female athletes that have grown up with one parent or no parent. This book isn’t just a glimpse into the past of a family’s history; it entails stories that provide the reader with hope and motivation for their life. “Not Far From The Tree” is also a spotlight into the experiences of an African American male and how he and other blacks lived during the 60’s and 70’s when racial tensions were high.

My father is someone that I look up to as a respected man of character, integrity, and humility. He takes pride in his various crafts, and it has translated into being an example for his family, friends, and people around him. When I think about the credibility of Eric Simmons, a timeline of his accolades and successes come to mind. From his “heart over height” mentality to make Auburn’s basketball team, against all the odds, to obtaining various leadership positions while working at IBM and other Fortune 500 companies, he has the hardware to prove he knows what he is talking about. The key thing about Eric Simmons is that he has always been humble throughout his life. While reading the book, I hope you will be able to see how a small African American male from Little Rock, Arkansas made a name for himself.

Readers will find historical information about the Simmons’ family and understand the origins of where Eric Simmons has come from. I’m hopeful that in reading this book, people will further understand how important family lineage is and more importantly, pick up on key life lessons throughout its contents. Life is a never-ending battle with few ups and many downs. The times we live in now, are such, people have numerous resources to help them overcome trials and tribulations. I believe this book is going to help individuals, raised by a single parent, or no parent, that are going through or have gone through similar circumstances as my Dad. This book is a guide for people who can relate to Eric Simmons and find themselves looking for hope and encouragement. “Not Far From The Tree” is a great read, and at the end of the book, I believe readers will see that they too are not far from the tree.

Introduction

I'm Eric Otis Simmons, and I am a Challenge Acceptor (#CA). I love proving people wrong. Tell me I can't do something, and more times than not, I'll do it! Need a few bits of proof? A Senior Executive with an Asia-Pacific company once told me he didn't feel comfortable doing business with an American company. Six months later, he procured $25 million worth of business from me. People told me I was too small to walk on and make Auburn University's basketball team. At 5' 7" and 147 pounds, I made the team. A guy once told me I'd never work for the likes of IBM, AT&T or GE. Well, I worked in Sales and Sales Management for all three. Someone said to me, "Oh, you'll never marry that girl." Well, I married "that girl," and we've been together for 37 years. I’ve been personally thanked by Governor George Corley Wallace for a job well done in selling his office an IBM computer system. He was the same man that stood at "The Door" of the University of Alabama to fight entry of blacks into the school. I was the only black man in the room when I closed sales of $500,000 and up in Brussels, Paris, and Hong Kong. When I was told I'd never learn to water ski on my first time out, I did and jokingly proclaimed myself, “The First Black Man on Skis.”

How does a black man, raised by a single Mom, do all of this when "society" says it can't happen? Well, it did happen, because my Mom instilled in me, “seeds” of knowledge, which were - I could do anything and be anything I wanted - if I just put my mind to it. I believed what my Mom told me, and I refused to let her down.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Preface

Forward

Introduction

Chapter 1A Child is Born

Chapter 2In a League, All Their Own

Chapter 3Otis Alexander Bailey

Chapter 4My Ancestry Hunt

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 1

A Child is Born

It was May 18, 1956, around 11:00 P.M. Otis Davis Simmons paced the halls of University Hospital nervously awaiting news of his wife’s (Jean Wiletta) and child’s status. He couldn’t imagine what could be taking so long. As time passed by, Otis grew more, and more anxious, and began fearing the worst. He and Jean, or “Willy,” as he affectionately called her, arrived at Little Rock’s University Hospital around 8:45 that night. She had been prepped and taken to the delivery room around 9:30. Weary of his pacing, Nannie Belle, Otis’ Mother, who had arrived by train a week earlier from Kansas City to assist the young couple, said, “Otis, why don’t you go outside and smoke your pipe to relax? I’ll come get you when the nurse comes.” Otis replied, “I’m out of tobacco. I’ve smoked the entire pouch since we've been here."

Inside the delivery room, Dr. Eva Dodge had worries of her own. Jean and Otis’ baby had, at some point near the end of the pregnancy, flipped and the buttocks were appearing first. Dr. Dodge worked feverishly to try and turn the baby so that it would be born headfirst. The baby was having none of it, however. Eventually, Dr. Dodge managed to turn the baby so she could grab its feet. At 12:26 A.M. on May 19th, Otis and Jean had a son. They named him Eric Otis Simmons.

There was joy all around the little house on 1110 Izard Street. The parents were aglow about their new son, and Nannie Belle was every bit as proud. Friends, faculty, and students from Philander Smith College, where the couple worked, streamed through the house to see the new baby boy. Jean, who was a Graduate Student Instructor at the College, had received a wager from her students whereby if the child were a boy, she would have to nickname him Butch. Jean playfully took up her students on the name bet. Much to their delight, she and Otis honored their wager by nicknaming the newborn boy, Butch.

Otis, Nannie Belle, and Jean looking over Butch

Although somewhat embellished, these were actual events surrounding my birth.

Chapter 2

In a League, All Their Own

I wasn’t born to just any two parents. Years ago, my parents and I were sitting at the kitchen table when I said, “Both of you have told me you used to recite Shakespeare to one another in bed. I’ve never heard you quote Shakespeare before.” Dad looked at Mom and said, “Why don’t we do our favorite piece?” The next thing I knew, they were going back and forth alternating between verses of Shakespeare with a gleam in their eyes. I said, “Wait a minute guys. It was that look that probably brought me into this world!” They erupted into laughter. Dad nearly fell on the floor howling, and Mom was in tears. When they composed themselves, I followed with, “I have to ask you guys something serious. Something very serious.” They looked at me with concern on their faces and in near unison replied, “Sure son. You can ask us anything.” I inquired, “Am I adopted?” Then there was more howling, table pounding, and laughter between them. They assured me I wasn’t adopted.

Mom and Dad met in 1953 at Philander Smith College where he was the new Choir Director and Voice Instructor. She was a recent Pre-Law graduate and Assistant to the College’s President, Dr. Lafayette Harris.

Dad and Mom during their Philander Smith days

After graduating from Sumner High School, Dad served four years in the Army where he rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant before being Honorably Discharged. He received his Bachelor (1953), Master (1958), and Ph.D. (1965) in Music Education from the University of Kansas. Dad also spoke German and French. From 1948-1949, he attended the Kansas City Conservatory of Music to study voice with Endre Kreachmann, formally the leading baritone of the Paris Opera Company. He was the only African-American to sing in the select male chorus of the Conservatory during a presentation of the “Alto Rhapsody” by Brahms with Blanche Thebom of the Metropolitan Opera as soloist. Dad also sang as a soloist with the Kansas City Symphony band.

When she was in the fourth grade, Mom had to drop out of school for the year due to an illness. When she returned the next year, Mom performed so well, she skipped two grade levels (fourth, and fifth grades). After graduating from high school, my Mother received numerous scholarship offers to attend college. She chose Philander Smith College, a Methodist school in Little Rock, Arkansas upon receipt of a full four-year scholarship from the United Methodist Church. In 1953, after only three years of attendance, Mom graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Law, with Honors, from Philander Smith. Shortly afterward, she was accepted to attend Boston University’s School of Law and The University of Arkansas’ College of Education Master’s Degree program. She decided to go to the University of Arkansas.

Mom and Dad married May 17, 1954. He was 30; she was 22. Their wedding was held at the President’s House on the campus of Philander Smith College.

The newlyweds

On January 28, 1956, roughly five months before I was born, Mom became one of the first, if not the first, African-American women to receive a Master of Education degree from the University of Arkansas. Following, she received the prestigious Ford Foundation Fellow award to begin her study towards a PH.D. in Education at the University. To better understand the significance of the award, in 2016, only 60 Ford Foundation Fellow awards were bestowed nationally. Mom’s PH.D. research was a part of the “Arkansas Experiment in Teacher Education” which was a new and controversial program combining internship and professional study. Apparently, with me needing so much of her attention as a toddler, Mom ultimately decided to cease pursuit of her Doctorate.

On September 15, 1959, after nearly five years of marriage, my parents divorced. I was three years old at the time. My parents never told me why they divorced. I have my guesses, though. My thinking is, in the 1950’s, women were expected to be subservient to men and know that their place was “in the home.” Mom was the antithesis of such thinking. Dad was a highly driven, articulate, intelligent black man with a higher IQ than most white males he encountered. Mom was every bit of Dad’s match intellectually. Add to the mix; she was a black woman. Without question, both my parents were far ahead of the times in which they lived. Of the two, Dad's ego and tremendous pride were far greater than Mom's. When I add it up, I find it inconceivable the two could have coexisted together, under one roof, for an extended period, especially in that particular era. Put another way; I have concluded, “My parents were like poles, and they ended up repelling one another.”

Chapter 3

Otis Alexander Bailey

A sociologist once wrote, “We live in an unpredictable world full of surprises, good, and bad.” Truer words perhaps have never been spoken. A little bit over a year after my Dad passed away, I decided to either keep or get rid of some of his belongings I had been reluctant to let go of. In a two-drawer mahogany file cabinet of his, I noticed a folder entitled, “Birth Certificates/Name Change.” “How could I have missed this folder previously?” I thought. Inside, there was a certificate of birth.

I wondered why Dad would have this and if this person was him. The birth date and Mother’s first name matched his and my Grandmother. “Who was John H. Bailey?” I wondered. I was confused and needed some answers quickly! An immediate one was in another document inside the folder of which there were two copies. It was a court document with the heading, “… IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF OTIS ALEXANDER BAILEY TO CHANGE HIS NAME TO OTIS DAVIS SIMMONS.” I was floored! On March 31, 1948, a Judge granted the petition for a name change. The permission had occurred about a month before Dad turned 24-years-old. Talk about a major surprise here!

I knew Jesse Simmons was Dad’s Stepfather but didn’t know Dad was born Otis Alexander Bailey, and his biological father was John H. Bailey. I wondered if my Mom ever knew this. I still could not figure out why Dad changed his middle name to Davis though. I began wondering, “What other surprises might be in store for me as relates to my family?” I needed some answers, but unfortunately, the relatives who could have possibly given them to me had all passed away. To get answers to my questions, I realized I needed to do some genealogical research.

Chapter 4

My Ancestry Hunt

In many black families, historical information is passed on by word of mouth and unfortunately tends to wither away over time – especially when relatives become deceased. Cognizant of such, I am making “The Simmons Family Tree” available to my children and family members online so they can expand on it going forward. I encourage and challenge them to find out information about the slave ships our ancestors came over on, who our slave masters were and to one day visit our homeland.

One day, late winter of 2013, I was at a business lunch meeting with my company President and several other Managers. The President shared how he pulled together his family tree using an online service named, “Ancestry.com” or “Ancestry” for short. He showed us a picture of his family shield which he had discovered using the service and spoke with immense pride about his Italian heritage. He asked me where I was from and I told him Little Rock, Arkansas. When I got home, I was embarrassed to tears. I was 57 years old, and I didn’t know where I was from. Sure, I was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but I am actually from Africa, and sadly, I didn't even know what part. I made up my mind, the next time someone asked me where I was from, I would know exactly where! On April 9th of that same year, I ordered a subscription to “Ancestry” and later began building my family tree. I started with my Mother’s side first because I had more information than on my Dad’s side, which was very limited.

To find out about my African roots, I ordered two DNA saliva test kits from “Ancestry.” I used the first one to capture my youngest son’s (Kevin) saliva, and the second mine. My intent with Kevin’s test was to obtain information on my wife's genealogy. When both test results were made available online for review, I studied the results thoroughly.

DNA results for Kevin Simmons

DNA results for Eric Simmons

At last, I had the answer to the question of where I was from. Now, I could with confidence, pride, and dignity say, “I am from West Africa and am predominately Nigerian!” No more tears again about me not knowing.

Kevin’s test results yielded 132 Ancestry subscribers with whom he shared DNA traces. The list of people ranged from being likely second to eighth cousins. My list contained 139 users who ranged from being likely first to eighth cousins. With this information in hand, I decided to send a message to those that allowed other Ancestry members their contact info, to make them aware of Kevin’s and my DNA results. I focused on individuals who had already built large family trees in the “service” and who were rated as “Extremely High” or “High” regarding the likelihood of being a first to the fourth cousin. Ten of the 18 members (61%) I contacted responded back. Of these, two quickly notified me as to our relationship.

With Mom’s side of the family tree underway, I sought to obtain Dad’s original birth certificate. I felt it would possibly have more information about my biological Grandfather John H. Bailey. On June 29, 2016, I contacted the Kansas Department of Health, and Environment (KDHE) to order an original copy of Dad’s birth certificate. A Department employee referred me to the online forms I needed to complete to receive a copy of the document. Three weeks passed, and I had not heard back from KDHE. I called and learned the researcher assigned to me had become confused about Dad’s two names and had stopped his investigation. In speaking with the investigator, I realized I had failed to send the court petition which granted Dad’s name change. With the matter cleared up, about a week later I received Dad’s original birth certificate. I was ecstatic! Now, I had what I needed to begin putting together pieces of the puzzle as relates to his side of the family.

Otis Alexander Bailey’s Birth Certificate

I spent countless hours researching my patriarchal side. From starting with only ten known patrilineal family members, I have found about 100 relatives dating all the way back to 1799. These are all either related to my Grandmother (Nannie Belle) or my StepGrandfather (Jesse Simmons). My investigation of John H. Bailey revealed his middle name was Henry. I have researched thousands of people named John Bailey, or similar, and have not been able to find out more about him other than the information on the birth certificate. Also, I have not been able to find a marriage license for him and my Grandmother. Not having my biological Grandfather’s place of birth written on Dad’s birth certificate has significantly thwarted my investigative efforts.

On June 15, 1926, Grandmother married Andy A. Davis. He was 27, and she was 18. As of this writing, I have not been able to find any other information about him. I did find something interesting in the 1930 United States Census, however. Dad was living with my Great Grandfather (Merritt Johnson) and Great Grandmother (Fannie Bagby Johnson). His full name is shown as Otis Davis. I’ve concluded the surname Davis must be the reason behind Dad’s middle name change. When the 1940 U.S. Census was taken, Grandma was listed as the spouse of Jesse Simmons. They lived in Detroit, Michigan with their two children Otis Simmons (age 15) and my Aunt Norma Jean Simmons (age 14). I have been unable to find out when Grandmother and Jesse were married. In the Court document, Dad states he was requesting a name change to avoid confusion when seeking employment. This would make sense to me, particularly if someone requested his birth certificate.

Mom was born September 3, 1931, in Eufaula, Alabama to William Dewitt Moore and Flossie Mae Moore. He was 24, and she was 19. I learned during my research that Flossie’s maiden name was also Moore. The two were unrelated. Strangely, on my Mother’s side, there was another occurrence of married relatives with the same last name who were unrelated. In this case, a Brown married a Brown. Like Dad’s, my Mother’s birth certificate turned out to be quite a surprise - although less shocking. The Alabama Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics incorrectly listed her as being born a boy named Clennie Mae Moore. About one month after Mom was born, the Department corrected the name to read Wiletta Victora Moore. Mom was named after her Aunt and Grandmother. To this day, I have no idea how Mom came to be called Jean Wiletta.

Clarification of Mom’s birth certificate

Granddad William was one of five children born to my Great Grandparents John William Moore and Victoria McCullough. Granddad’s siblings were: Cortelyou Joseph, John Purifoy, Crawford, and Wiletta.

My Great Grandparents apparently felt it important their children pass down names through the family – a notion which I find quite noble. To date, there have been two generations of Victoria or similar, two generations of Wiletta, three generations of John or similar, and three generations of Cortelyou Joseph within the Moore family.

Per her death certificate, my Grandmother Flossie Mae died when Mom was nine years old. So, I wondered, how then and why did Mom end up in Akron, Ohio being raised by Eula Mae Nevels whom I grew up knowing as my Grandmother? No one had ever said or told me otherwise. Where was Granddad William during this time? Once again, I found myself needing answers.

Mom at a young age

My “Ancestry” research revealed Flossie Mae was the only child of Cleveland Moore and Mary Brown, my Great Grandparents. Mary was one of 8 children born to James and Lizzie Brown. One of Mary’s siblings was her sister Eula Lee. Somehow, apparently, Eula Lee became being called Eula Mae. Perhaps her full name was Eula Mae Lee Brown. On an insurance policy, I found after Mom passed away, it shows Eula as her Aunt. In a 1962 Department of Defense Personnel Security Questionnaire that Mom signed, Eula is listed as her Legal Guardian. In the same document, Mom is shown as living in Akron in 1937 which wouldhave made her six years old. In Eula's obituary, Mom is listed as her adopted daughter. Confused by all of this, I called my cousin Barbara Brown to share my discovery. Barbara confirmed Eula was my Great Aunt. I also learned Barbara was Eula’s Granddaughter – a fact I never knew. I was 59 years old when I learned all of this. Life is full of surprises indeed.

I still didn’t have the answer as to how and why Mom ended up in Akron, Ohio with my “Grandmother” Eula. Granddad William and Grandmother Flossie Mae were still alive in 1937. I have learned when doing genealogical research, and you come across unanswered questions or a dead end, you should avail yourself of all known resources (if there are any) or make logical conclusions/assumptions as to what may have happened. I ended up calling Barbara (who was born and raised in Akron) again. Apparently, before my Mom turned 6, Grandmother Flossie Mae became terminally ill and was unable to care for Mom to the extent she would have liked. As I listened to Barbara, I do recall hearing such from my Mother when I was young. Grandmother Flossie died in 1940. Apparently, she and Granddad William were desirous of a female raising my Mother and realized the strain it would have been on Granddad raising Mom alone as a single parent. As best as I could figure out, there were two potential female options for my maternal Grandparents to reach out to at the time. One was Mom’s Aunt Wiletta who was single and age 24. The other was Eula who was married and age 30-31. I don’t [...]