Conway M Simmons was born on September 30th 1938 to Cyril Dewey Simmons and Nona Louise Simmons(Lambert). he was the 5th. of seven children. He lived on Pond Hill (Railway Terrace). His ancestry is notable as it includes a vast Simmons connection notably Ambrose and Alice Simmons and Great Grand Father Soloman James Simmons and this made him a very proud Government gate boy.

His early schooling was with Mrs. Louise Simmons School and then Central School there his favorite subjects were English, History and Languages. He attended high school at Berkeley. At age 14 he gave his heart to the Lord. At age 15 he gave his first Sermon and impressed his piers at church. In church he actively participated in the Sunday School Youngs’ Peoples Choir and Junior Church as well as on the Branch Level as an officer .

At age 18 he was sure that preaching was what he wanted to do. He joined eleven other persons going on to Wilberforce University an AME Institution. After graduating from Wilberforce he attended Payne Theological Seminary. Then he went on to Jamaica where he stayed until 1969 working in AME missions. He traveled to several other states to follow his desire in preaching.

Conway met the woman of his dreams and love of his life while in the Island when she was on a Scholarship at the United Technical College a division of the University of West Indies. On July 13th. 1974 they married and after two years he returned to Bermuda and pastored at St. John’s AME church on Wilkinson’s Avenue. He pastored there from June 1st.1975-March 1976. He was then appointed to Heard Chapel in Pembroke, he stayed there for 11 years. In 1983 to 1993 he became Presiding Elder.

These Preaching positions however became a strain on his family life because they required a lot of traveling. He did not like the social side of the job either Christening boats, going to the changing of the Colours all dressed in Clerics was not his thing. He continued to Pastor and from 1987-1993 he Pastored Vernon Temple AME. Church in Southampton Bermuda and stated it was the most memorable and rewarding of his career.

He was the Pastor of St. Paul AME Chuch on Court and Victoria Streets for a few years before leaving and returning back because he felt he could not Pastor and be an Elder at the same time. He was relieved of that position and then went on to Pastor at Richard Allen Church in St. George’s Bermuda before returning back to St. Paul to preach for several year before he finally retired. He does however remain on the membership role of St. Paul and regularly attends morning worship. They have two children and several grand children and son Cyril who carries the name of his Grand Father has followed in the footsteps of his father and is an AME Pastor.

He enjoys international Cuisine and is an expert at making his special soup which was asked of him on many occasions when the church would hold any special functions. Conway remains a very devote and faithful man of God.

Researched By Joy Wilson-Tucker Historian