Our Mission

Our mission is to develop and maintain a commemorative garden from design to completion on the grounds of St. John's Reformed Episcopal Church, located at 91 Anson Street, Charleston, SC, and to preserve the legacy and craft of Mr. Philip Simmons (1912-2009). 

OUR HISTORY

The Philip Simmons Foundation was incorporated in 1992 with a very diversified board of citizens. This board set out to make the request of St. John's Reformed Episcopal Church a reality: a commemorative garden in honor of Philip Simmons. With this goal in front of the board, it was perceived that the project would be a community-wide effort. The landscape architectural firm of Edward Pinckney/Associates, Ltd., (College of Charleston campus) committed to designing the garden. The estimated cost was $250,000. Next, the board along with some creative citizens who volunteered their talents, developed several marketing items to aide the fundraising methods. The results from their meetings were a traveling black/white photographic exhibit, a video, DVD, posters, a curriculum for grades 3-12, Christmas ornaments and cards, and jewelry of designs by Simmons in silver and gold. The 1995 production of "Keeper of the Gate" won a Southern Regional Emmy Award for "Outstanding Achievement in Television Programming, Excellence in Cultural Affairs Programs."

THE FOUNDING BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
Honorary Chairperson

David C. Floyd
President Emeritus, Director of Job Corp.

Jimmie Cobbs
Financial Secretary, General Contractor

Arnold Collins
Treasurer, Executive Director, Charleston County Human Services Center

Rossie M. Colter
Project Administrator, Realtor

Olga P. Burke
Owner of Affiliated Management Service

Herbert DeCosta
Preservationist/Construction Consultant

Sen. Herbert U. Fielding
Former State Senator, Lobbyist/Mortician

Lillian Gilliam
Retired Nurse/Daughter of Philip Simmons

Pearl G. Jenkins
Retired Educator, Realtor

Thomas M. Leland, Ph.D., M.D.
Opthamologist

Arthur C. McFarland, Esq. 
Attorney/Retired Municipal Court Judge

F. Truitt Rabun, Jr., FASLA
Landscape Architect, Landplan Partnership, Hilton Head Island, SC

Philip Simmons
Blacksmith

George W. Twiggs
Educator

Leo F. Twiggs, Ph.D.
Retired Educator/Artist

Maurice Washington
Former City Councilman, City of Charleston

Bishop James C. West, Sr.
Bishop, Diocese of the Southeast Region, The Reformed Episcopal Church

Dr. Lucille S. Whipper
Former SC State Representative
 

CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lillian Gilliam
Retired Nurse/Daughter of Philip Simmons

Pearl G. Jenkins
Retired Educator, Realtor

Rev. William J. Hill
Rector, St. John's Formed Episcopal Church

David C. Floyd
President Emeritus