Sallie Enders Simons

Sallie Enders Simons died Friday March 16, 2012. Her Relatives and Friends are invited to attend her Funeral Service at St. Michael's Episcopal Church at 11:00 AM Thursday March 22, 2012. Burial will follow at Magnolia Cemetery. The family will receive guests at a reception from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday March 21, 2012, at The Confederate Home and College, 62 Broad Street, Charleston, SC, 29401. Ms. Simons was born in Charleston January 29, 1927, the daughter of William Lucas Simons and Adle Petigru Conner. She attended Ashley Hall School in Charleston and graduated from St. Catherine's School in Richmond, Virginia. After graduating from St. Catherine's she moved to New York where she attended Parsons School for Design and modeled part time. Upon returning home she continued her studies in sculpting and painting, working with Willard Hirsch. Sallie Enders Simons was, among many other things, an accomplished artist with a large portfolio of watercolors across many styles and palettes. In addition, she had long been deeply involved in the civic and cultural life of the city, from making early, wire-spooled recordings of Gullah Spirituals at isolated churches with her aunt, Harriett Stoney Simons [Mrs. Albert Simons] to promoting the transformation of the children's book, "The Country Bunny" into a ballet for the Charleston Ballet Theater. In the 1960's she was active in the preservation of the row of derelict warehouses on East Bay, which resulted in the revitalization of that street and its morphing into Restaurant Row. Additionally she worked with Nancy Hawk to establish Ms. Mason's School, which became Mason Preparatory School, one of the first schools for children with learning challenges. She was a member of the Junior League of Charleston, the Colonial Dames of South Carolina, The Huguenot Society, and St. Michael's Episcopal Church. For many years she was an active docent at the Nathaniel Russell House, and a volunteer with The Gibbs Museum of Art. She was a registered Tour Guide with the City of Charleston, as well as a VIP guide for Spoleto Festival USA. Her favorite Spoleto VIP was the actor Anthony Hopkins whom she introduced to the joggling board. Her nickname was Sassy, and she was! Sassy loved people, parties, and picnics. She loved being with her extensive family, which included many friends who automatically became family. She was known for her colorful hats and for wearing flowers or Chinese hairpins in her upswept hair. Well-read, she enjoyed witty and intellectual conversation. She was very proud of her children and loved teasing with them (gin and tonic in hand) at the Kanuga Regatta in summer. Sallie Enders Simons is survived by her brother, W. Lucas Simons of Nashville, five children by her former marriage to George Ball Daniels: Courtenay Lining Daniels, Adle Conner Simons Daniels, William Gadsden Daniels, George Ball Daniels, Jr., and Lucas Simons Daniels, six grandchildren, five nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and dear friends. Her sister, Adle Simons Wilson, predeceased her in 2004. If attending the reception or funeral, guests are asked to wear bright cheery colors. Ladies' hats are optional.