A Celebration of a Life Well Lived

HETTIE SIMMONS LOVE

Hettie Francessor Simmons Love, born in Jacksonville, Florida on October 29, 1922, was the youngest daughter of the late Charles E. Simmons, Sr. and Hettie Frances Cooper Simmons.

She grew up in a loving home and attended the Boylan-Haven School for Girls, where she was valedictorian of her class. Hettie attended Fisk University, an Historically Black College or University (“HBCU”) in Nashville, Tennessee, where she majored in math. It was at Fisk, in 1941, that she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Pi Chapter. After graduating from Fisk in 1943, Hettie returned to Jacksonville and worked for the Afro-American Life Insurance Company in their accounting department.

At the encouragement of her mother and because of her own desire for better opportunities, she applied to and ultimately attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. She majored in accounting, earning a Master of Business Administration (“MBA”) degree in 1947. Hettie was unaware at the time that she was the first African American student- male or female– to graduate from the Wharton School with a Master of Business Administration degree.

While at the University of Pennsylvania, she met the love of her life, George Hayward Love. They married in 1948 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Hettie applied for jobs in her field of study. Hettie was turned away for various reasons, including that she was “overqualified.” She obtained work as a bookkeeper for the American Friends Service Committee for a short time but eventually settled into the role as a stay-at-home mother, raising her two children, George, Jr. and Karen. Unable to pursue a career with her degree, Hettie applied her academic skills in community settings, serving in leadership positions in several organizations in Philadelphia. Most notably, Hettie was a Charter member of Tots and Teens, Incorporated, a family club in Philadelphia organized by a group of mothers who wanted to provide their children with age appropriate education, social, and cultural experiences. In the mid to late 1960’s she taught math as a substitute high school teacher in the Philadelphia School System.

After the family moved to Harrisburg in 1971, Hettie continued applying her specialized business acumen in both a professional and community capacity. Hettie served as the Treasurer of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for over 20 years, and as an accountant to three different Black-owned businesses in the Harrisburg area, offering suggestions ofoperational improvements. As a volunteer in the community, one of her first actions was to devote her time to service and sisterhood by reactivating with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Epsilon Sigma Omega Chapter. There she served as Chapter President, Treasurer, Historian and in a host of other leadership positions. Hettie also became a Charter Member of the Harrisburg (PA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and is a proud Alumna Member.

She volunteered in schools as a math tutor, served on the Board of Directors of the Young Women’s Christian Association (“YWCA”) and worked for the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (“RSVP”) in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Hettie, while in her eighties, maintained her qualifications for IRS Certification to help seniors complete their income tax forms.

In June of 2016, while attending a sorority convention in Atlanta, Georgia, Hettie earned the distinction of becoming a Diamond member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., having been a member for 75 years. She serves as a stellar example of committed service to all mankind. It was at that celebration that Lana Williams Woods, a sorority sister and Wharton Alumna, started Hettie on her road to recognition as one of Wharton’s Hidden Figures– the first African American to graduate with an MBA. In December 2016, at the Whitney M. Young Gala in Philadelphia, Hettie was awarded a trailblazer award from the African American MBA Association (“AAMBAA”) of the Wharton School.

In 2017, she was the esteemed guest of honor at a Wharton Alumni and Recruit gathering held at the home of Lana Williams Woods in Harlem, New York. In December 2022, Hettie returned to the Whitney M. Young Gala in Philadelphia, where the MBA Association presented a scholarship in her name (The Hettie Simmons Love Award). The scholarship is awarded to students attending the Wharton School. Since then, many honors have been bestowed upon Hettie. The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Omega Chapter, presented her with the “Legends Award” in November of 2017. She also received recognition from Beta Pi Boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as one of the Archousai Women of Distinction in December of 2017. The National Youth Foundation, under the leadership of Sophia Hanson, published the book, Hettie Simmons Love, Penn Pioneer, in 2021, to celebrate the fact that Hettie was the first African American graduate of the Wharton School with an MBA. The book was distributed to libraries and schools located in every place where Hettie has lived. She was also celebrated with a car parade at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, on May 15, 2021, to meet the first African American Dean of the Wharton School, Erika H. James and some of the student authors who penned her book. The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg presented Hettie with the Torch of Global Enlightenment Award in May 2021, and the Patriot News published an article highlighting Hettie as “Harrisburg’s Hidden Figure.”

On September 19, 2021, the Union of Black Episcopalians, Bishop Nathan Baxter Chapter (“UBEBBC”), hosted a Love Gala in honor of Hettie and her late husband, Dr. George H. Love, an educator. The Dr. George H. and Mrs. Hettie S. Love “Love of Learning” Scholarship was established to support students of color entering the field of Education- a perpetual way to keep alive the memory of the Loves who have contributed so much to the betterment of their communities. Funded through personal and corporate contributions to the Foundation for Enhancing Communities (“TFEC”), this scholarship encourages teachers to share their love of learning with future generations. Hettie was a long-time supporter of The American Literacy Corporation (“ALC”), under the leadership of Floyd Stokes, which awarded Hettie the Black Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award on February 24, 2022. She continued to support reading events and read books, including her own, on ALC’s Reading 365 virtual platform and in classrooms and community settings. Also, in 2022, Hettie was honored to receive the Lifetime Legacy Award from the Greater Harrisburg Area NAACP ACT-SO Program. Hettie had a milestone birthday on October 29, 2022; she turned 100 years old. Her birthday celebrations started in August with a bucket list trip to Martha’s Vineyard and her tenth birthday cake was shared in late November. In January 2023, at its Inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Banquet, Penn State University presented Hettie with the Champion for Social Justice, Equity and Inclusion award. In February 2023, during his Seventeenth Annual Black History Month celebration in Washington, DC, United States Senator Robert Casey honored Hettie for her notable contributions as a Wharton School pioneer and for her efforts to bring equity and justice to communities across Pennsylvania. Her final public appearance was on June 15, 2023, at a Juneteenth celebration during a Harrisburg Senators’ (minor league) baseball game on City Island, in Harrisburg. There, she was honored to throw the opening pitch.

As a reflection of Hettie’s commitment to lifelong learning, on July 8, 2023 the first Hettie Simmons Love HBCU Academic Scholarship was awarded by the AKA Foundation of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. to a deserving student who will matriculate this Fall at Howard University. Hettie continued to thrive despite the aches and pains associated with age. Still having a clear mind and sharp wit, she was able to continue to inspire others through many events in her honor, which told her story. Her zest for life increased with each year and she felt truly blessed to be living her best life each day.

On the evening of July 14, 2023 in her home, encircled by the love of her dear son, precious daughter, and close family friends, Hettie peacefully transitioned into the loving arms of Jesus. We confidently believe God’s declaration, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23) Hettie was preceded in transitioning by her husband of 66 years, George H. Love, Sr.; her brother Charles E. Simmons, Jr. and her sisters, Ernest Simmons and Lillouise McCray. She is survived by her loving children, George H. Love, Jr. (Katherine) and Karen Love; her grandchildren, George Heru and Beheshteh Love; her nephews Charles Simmons III (Sheryll), Mark Royall (Cassandra) and Charles McCray (Marie); her nieces, Marilyn Gates Gutman and Karol R. Logan; and a host of great nieces, nephews, family members, friends and loved ones. Memorial Donations to honor the life and legacy of Hettie Simmons Love can be made to The Dr. George H. and Mrs. Hettie S. Love “Love of Learning” Scholarship Fund: ((https://tfec.org/scholarships/dr-george-h-and-hettie-s-love-love-of-learning-scholarship-fund/ ). Checks sent to The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), 200 North 3rd St., Harrisburg, PA 17101 should include “Love of Learning” on the memo line. or The Hettie Simmons Love HBCU Academic Scholarship Fund: (https://akafoundationofcentralpa.com/donate/). Checks may be made payable to: the AKAFoundation of Central Pennsylvania, Inc., PO Box 61244, Harrisburg, PA 17107

Hettie’s life will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 26th at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary of her church, St. Paul Episcopal Church, 248 Seneca St., Harrisburg with viewing 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and burial in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.