Lucy Frances (or Francis) Simms[1] was born enslaved in 1855 or 1856[2] on one of the estates owned by the Gray family in either Harrisonburg or Roanoke, Virginia.

[4] Simms was a Methodist of strong moral convictions and was held in great esteem and affection by both school children and the community.

[3] Simms was initially educated in Harrisonburg at the Whipple School founded by the Freedmen's Bureau[6][2] but from 1874 she attended the Hampton Institute in Virginia and graduated in 1877 with a teaching certificate of the first degree.

[3] During her career she returned to the Hampton Institute several times for continuing professional development courses that were held during summer vacations.

[5] From 2021 a biography of Simms will be used in Rockingham County and Harrisonburg schools in Virginia within the history and social studies curriculum.