Bobbie Jean Simms peacefully transitioned on January 28, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri. Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Bobbie carried the strength of her southern roots and the warmth of her spirit with her throughout her life, ultimately making Kansas City her home and final resting place.

Bobbie was a devoted wife to her beloved husband, James Simms, and a cherished mother, loving stepmother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. To her family and all who knew her, she was a guiding light, kind, compassionate, steady, and full of grace and class.

A woman of faith, perseverance, and purpose, Bobbie believed deeply in education and lifelong learning. She graduated from Rosa A. Temple High School and married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth F. Roberts. From their union were born three children: Adrienne, Monica, and Kenneth II. Bobbie always demonstrated remarkable strength, bravery, and courage, overcoming many challenges while providing love, stability, and guidance for her children.

Bobbie began her professional career with the United States government, serving in various roles before discovering her calling in education and leadership. Her passion for learning led her to earn an Associate of Science degree in Liberal Arts, a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, and a Master of Business Administration. During her academic journey, she was inducted into the International College Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa, a testament to her discipline, intellect, and determination. A woman of both accomplishment and courage, Bobbie also worked in tax preparation, serving her community with diligence and care. In the 1970s, she quietly broke barriers as one of the first African American models to appear in department store advertisements and catalogs, embodying beauty, grace, and progress during a transformative era.

She retired after a distinguished career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where she faithfully served as a Contract Specialist, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, excellence, and professionalism. Retirement did not slow her purpose; she later returned to work as a college instructor, joyfully sharing her love of learning and empowering others through education.

Bobbie was also a proud member of the Order of the Eastern Star, living out its principles of charity, truth, and loving service. Her life reflected her faith and her commitment to serving God and others with humility and grace.

Beyond her accomplishments, Bobbie found joy in the simple and meaningful pleasures of life. She loved reading, often losing herself in books that expanded her mind and spirit, and she enjoyed traveling, embracing new places and experiences with curiosity and gratitude.

She leaves to celebrate her life and cherish her memory her loving children, Adrienne Taylor (Cortez) and Kenneth Roberts II; her stepchildren, Shasta Holland and David Simms (Janelle); her sisters, Margaret Martin, Birdia Jefferies, and Merry Grace Rhodes; her brothers, James Wesley and Willie Wesley; her five beloved grandchildren, Corey, Jasmine, Cobe, Kendrick, and TyLiyah, who brought her immeasurable joy; and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family members who loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her mother, Fannie Wesley (Johnson); her brother, Robert Wesley; her sisters, Bettye Rice and Mandi Lee Braden; and her beloved daughter, Monica Roberts.

She was a loving mother and stepmother, a devoted wife, a caring sister, and a blessing to all who knew her. Her smile brought comfort, her words brought peace, and her presence brought light. Though her earthly journey has ended, her spirit lives on through the lives she shaped, the wisdom she shared, and the love she gave so freely.