Dr. B.J. Simmons
Milledgeville's First Black Physican

    Dr. Simmons, Milledgeville's first  black physican, was born in Laurens County, Ga.  October 16, 1870. His education, largely the result of his own efforts.  He attended  public schools in  Laurens County, working the farm during vacations.  He attended Ballard's Normal school in Macon and the Georgia State Industrial school at Savannah. He graduated from the Mehany Medical college, Nashville, Tenn., in 1893, taking first prize in anatomy. Successfully passing the Georgia state board of examiners in 1897, he began the practice of medicine in Milledgeville the same year.

   Sucessful and recognized as a fine physican by his patients and the local doctors,  he had a good practice in Milledgeville

   Dr Simmons died at the young age of 40, January 7, 1910.  He left behind his wife Petronia, age 29 and 4 small children: Benjamin, 6, James 4, Doris 2 and Phillip 1. He is buried at Memory Hill Cemetery in Milledgeville, Ga.
 
 

Source: Atlanta Constitution, 1910 Federal Census, memoryhill.org
 

Eileen Babb McAdams copyright 2005