 She later graduated from Bethune-Cookman College, a historically black college in Daytona Beach, with an associate of arts degree in 1941 and a bachelor of science degree in 1950.Simms taught elementary school classes for many years, in Merritt Island and Mims in Brevard County, and in Lake Park, Florida until her death.In Mims, she helped to cook lunch every day for the students.