Rosa Lee Porter

Rosa Lee Simmons Porter was born to the late Oscar and Marie Simmons on December 23, 1942. She was converted at an early age at Providence Missionary Baptist Church of Palmetto, Florida, under the leadership of Reverend Carey and later under Reverend G. I. Bradley. Her final move was to  Bible Baptist Church of Palmetto, where Reverend Sirrnest T. Webster was her pastor, until she was called home to be with the Lord on September 14, 2025.

She married her high school sweetheart, Jimmy Lee Porter, Sr., in 1960, and they celebrated 65 years as a happy and loving couple. To this union, God blessed them with one son, Jimmy Lee Porter, Jr.; one daughter, Debbie Porter; and a host of sisters, brothers, and in-laws, all of whom preceded her in death. She loved the Lord, her family, friends, and her job as a charge nurse of the OB Department and later in case management as a Diabetic Educator at Manatee County Rural Health Service, Inc.

She attended and graduated from Lincoln Memorial High in 1962. In 1965, she received her LPN license from Manatee Junior College. She was a part member of Nurse Finders, Women’s Health Coalition. She later went back to school at National Lewis University in 1995, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN). Through her work with Manatee County Rural Health from 1998 to 2024, she received many awards. One in particular was the Champions of Healthcare Nursing Award from Florida’s 16th District by Manatee Chamber of Commerce for her excellent work in nursing, and from Congress of the United States House of Representatives of Washington, D. C.

Rosa leaves to cherish her memories: her loving and devoted husband, Jimmy Lee Porter, Sr.; son/grandson, Ryan Waters; daughter/ granddaughter, Ryanna Waters; grandchildren, Alexis Holmes, Corey Porter (Ama), and Jimmy Lee Porter III; sisters, Ollie M. Fuller and Lula Simmons; brother, Robert (Arlene) Simmons; special nieces, Rosemary Douglas and Rebecca McCall; special nephews, Dennis Byrd and Clarence Maxwell; special friends, Janet Goff, Berneice Williams, Kathy Simmons , Rosemary Murray, and Joyce; and a host of grandchildren, great-grands, family, friends, in-laws, and coworkers.

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