08/20/2026
🕊️ Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dennie Lee (Pipkin) Simmons 🕊️
The Pipkin Braswell family honors the life and transition of a truly remarkable matriarch and our beloved aunt, Dennie Lee (Pipkin) Simmons (May 21, 1919 – August 1, 2026).
A life spanning 107 years cannot simply be measured in time; it is measured in the lives touched, the lessons shared, the family nurtured, and the legacy left behind. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Dennis and Minnie (Davis) Pipkin, Dennie Lee was the eldest of five children. She was raised alongside her sisters, Hazel and Vernice, and brothers, Joseph and Harvey.
Education was a vital thread throughout Dennie Lee’s life. She attended Prairie View College in Texas, where she met the love of her life, Zilluway H. Simmons. The two were married in San Antonio and together built a beautiful life grounded in family, hard work, and faith, raising their beloved son, Richard L. Simmons. After settling in Denver, they established their enduring family home on Clayton Street. Dennie Lee completed her college education in Colorado and, after working at Gates Rubber Company, began a 35-year career as a dedicated teacher for Denver Public Schools, teaching at Columbine Elementary before retiring from Schmitt Elementary.
For Dennie Lee, teaching did not end when she left the classroom. She passed the gift of education down through the generations, giving her grandson, Eric, and later her great-grandsons, a head start in school. Beyond her accomplishments, her life was rich in cherished family moments, including a memorable road trip with her grandchildren to Disneyland and along the West Coast. A longtime, faithful member of Scott United Methodist Church, her quiet strength, independent spirit, and enduring kindness defined her century of living.
Dennie Lee is preceded in heaven by her beloved husband, Zilluway; her only son, Richard; her parents, Dennis and Minnie; her sisters, Hazel Jones and Vernice Green; and her brothers, Joseph and Harvey Pipkin.
She leaves to cherish her incredible memory her grandson, Eric S. Simmons; granddaughter Jacqueline D. Murphy; great-grandsons Antaeus (Rachel), Ari, Alec (Kelly), and Khamani; great-granddaughters Kuristin, Kayla, and Kiera; great-great-grandsons Jamari, Jesiah, Antaeus, Enzo, Xander, and Axel; and great-great-granddaughter Anaiyah. She is also deeply loved and remembered by her God-appointed family Clara Sterling other relatives and longtime friends.
We invite you to join us as we gather to celebrate her 107 beautiful years and the extraordinary legacy she leaves in our hearts.
Service Arrangements
📅 Friday, August 21, 2026
Visitation
🕓 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
📍 Pipkin Braswell Funeral Home & Cremation
6601 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220
📅 Saturday, August 22, 2026
Celebration of Life
🕚 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
📍 Pipkin Braswell Funeral Home & Cremation
6601 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220
Graveside Service
🕑 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
📍 Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetery
10201 Grant St, Thornton, CO 80229
Repast / Reception
🕒 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
📍 Pipkin Braswell Funeral Home & Cremation
6601 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220
Share the Love & Memories
Dennie’s gentle heart and profound impact will be deeply missed. We invite you to help us honor her memory by:
Sharing a story or photo in the guestbook. 💬
Sharing this post on your own timeline to ensure all family, friends, and former students are informed. 📢
Rest well, Ms. Dennie. You lived fully, you lived faithfully, and you showed us how life can be lived with strength, humor, dignity, and grace. 🌟
