Mother Mary Victoria (nee Simmons) Weatherspoon ( one of the Simmons' girls ) peacefully made her transition to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 23, 2024.

Mother Weatherspoon was born in Ripley, Mississippi on October 28, 1934, to the late George and Jonnie B. (nee Stricklin) Simmons.   She was united in marriage to the late Elzie Weatherspoon on December 10, 1962, who preceded her in death on August 13, 2003.  Together they reared six children. She had been employed at the Superior Factory on Hamilton Street in Racine as well as performing janitorial duties in the Downtown area until landing a job as the first female Forklift Operator with the J. I. Case Company, retiring after 25 years.

She was always outspoken which is why she was good at speaking up and speaking out.  She was a prolific speaker, highly competitive, and greatly admired by her peers in her high school. She was active in sports and a member of the choral group.  She presided as queen in the Annual School Parade.  Her schoolmates thought she would become an actress.

She professed her faith in Christ at an early age, joining the St. John Baptist Church in Ripley, MS.    Having moved to Racine, Wisconsin she briefly attended Little Macedonia C.O.G.I.C. and then moved her membership to Second Missionary Baptist church where the late Rev. Mac C. Davis was pastor.   Under his direction in 1963, she assisted in organizing and reorganizing certain departments such as the Mission Society's Red Circle, the Sunshine Band, the Willing Workers, the Esther Circle, and the Mother's Board.  She was also appointed Building Fund Chairperson which helped the church purchase the property currently located at 1250 Lathrop Avenue.   Due to her dedication to the goals of the Missionary Department, Pastor Davis named Missionary Weatherspoon the president of the department.  Later, she became the Second Vice-president of the Wisconsin State General Baptist Women Auxiliary working alongside Missionary President Dr. Sudie Tatum.  A wing in Liberia, Africa is dedicated to S.M.B.C. because of the mission work abroad.

She was a member of the General Baptist State Convention of Wisconsin, the National Baptist Convention, and as the President of the local Missionary Society her team shook the foundation of S.M.B.C. with their fundraisers which included: Hat Shows, Fashion Shows, and Baby Contests, etc.  She attended the Milwaukee Area Theological Seminary School, earning a diploma in Theology.  In addition, she earned her Missionary licenses and ordination which allowed her to become an instructor in the Theology Seminaries at the local and state level. In the Seminary, she taught the New Testament and was an excellent instructor.   Under her leadership, the Missionary Department sponsored a Black Business Banquet where local Black Businessmen were recognized for their accomplishment- the first of its kind.  The funds from this banquet were used to install the first Air Conditioner at S. M. B. Church on Blake Avenue.  Their Baby Contests were used to partially fund the Missionary Society member's cost to attend the National Baptist Convention which was held in various states.

In 1997, she founded and organized the Mack C Davis Community Club Inc., in honor of the late Pastor Mack C. Davis. The Mission department's initial goal was to continue the scholarship under his name.   In 1998 the club held its first banquet honoring high school graduates with a $500.00 scholarship. The scholarships gradually increased to $1,000. Along with her friend Mrs. Judon, they worked as janitors at S.M.B.C., and their earnings were donated to the Mac C. Davis Community Club Scholarship fund.

Many years later, she convinced the city to deed one of its dilapidated buildings on the south side of Racine to the Mack C Davis Community Club.   The plan for the building was to house a place to teach young single mothers to sew, knit, and cook.  She also received a grant from the city to rehab the building.    She and her club members consisting of women gutted out the building with just one man to assist in this effort, the late John Judon husband of the late Mary Judon ( her Ace ) whose contributions can never be overlooked.     Both she and Mary Judon continued to do janitorial work to help with the cost of rehabbing the building. An honorable mention to her team is given which some have passed on: the late Marie Oliver, the late Mary Judon, the late Barbara McWhorter, Willie Vaughn, Juanita Almond, Hedy Gibson, Lorine Story, Barbara Knuckles, Florence Gentry, Pasty Olive, Vallie Rogers, and many others.     With the help of volunteers and funds from the grant, they were to complete the electrical wiring, plumbing, and many other items to meet the building code requirements. However, she was not able to renew the insurance policy for the building due to the high cost.  In 2007, the building was sold to Mr. John Kidd who was able to complete the building, making it a viable rental property, and is no longer an eyesore in the neighborhood.

This defeat did not stop her.  She used the funds from the sale of the building and monies contributed by dues-paying members to focus only on the Mack C Davis Scholarship Fund.   At this time Walter Rogers came alongside to assist the club members in assuming physical duties the women could not do. As of this date, more than 100 scholarships have been awarded to both high school and college graduates.   This year, ten students were awarded $1,500.00 each in scholarships. She has indeed created a legacy for herself and on behalf of others.

After years of dedicated service, she decided to follow her son Bi. Kelvin P. Weatherspoon, Sr. under the ministry of Dominion Church of God M.G.P.T.  where she reaffirmed her confession in the name of the Lord Jesus, serving on the Mother's Board with a fierce dedication to the Lord until her strength began to wane. While venturing throughout the states, she knew how to dress for the occasion! At home, she was a gardener with an immense green thumb, an awesome cook and baker, and she operated her 'secret' Second-hand store- she truly was a Proverbs 31 woman.   Because of her, the Weatherspoon household was the place to be during the holidays. Her showcase cakes, pies, homemade rolls, holiday dressing, and ice cream were the most sought-after.

She leaves to cherish her memories, her children: Wanda Williford, Vernnia Wright (special friend Diane), both of Milwaukee, WI; Monica Wright of Vancouver, WA; Dr. Janeth Osman, Ed.D. of Decatur, GA; Bi. Kelvin P. (Min. Debra)Weatherspoon, Sr., Jermaine J. (Angela) Weatherspoon, and Eddie B. Jones all of Racine, WI; Barbara Roland, Rev. Lewis (Sheila) Witherspoon, Margaret (Charles) Gaines, Tammy Allen all of Texas; her sisters Lorine Story, Orine Story, Vallie B. (Walter) Rogers, her brothers William (Ruth) Simmons all of Racine, WI, and John (Mae) Simmons of Ripley, MS; 20 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren.   Special friends Mo. Ruby Barkley, Mo. Luella Wainwright, Mo. Henrietta Moore, Pam Young, special granddaughter Savannah L. Jones, close and kind neighbors Frank and LuAnn, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Missionary Mother Mary V. Weatherspoon was preceded in death by her parents, a former husband Leonard Williford, her daughter Elsie Weatherspoon, her sisters Ruth Simmons, Deborah Cobb, and Elizabeth Gregory, her brothers Robert Simmons, Curtis Selmon, brothers-in-law William C. Story, Oliver Story, Bud Cobb, Walter Gregory, Daniel Weatherspoon, and close friends Mo. Opaline Smith, Mo. Thelma Jenkins, Mo. Roberta Marshall, and Mrs. Freddie Mae Shaw.

Service Details

Family and friends are invited to meet at Dominion Church of God MPGT (402 9th Street) on Saturday, JULY 6, 2024 , for a visitation from 10:00 am- 11:00 am.

A service celebrating her life and Homegoing will follow at 11:00 am.   Her interment will take place at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.