Darrell M. Simmons was born on May 31, 1965 in Brooklyn, New York to Lucinda and John Melvin Simmons. He was the fourth of five siblings and was raised among them in Brooklyn and Long Island, New York. He transitioned from this life on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at his home in Jersey City, New Jersey. Darrell's strong and vibrant personality and social abilities developed early in life and enabledmuch success at his many endeavors. He successfully attended several New York City Public Schools and went on to graduate from Park West High School for the Culinary Arts in Manhattan. It was during his high school years that he raised a passion for food and cooking. Because he loved it so much, Darrell spent his entire life in the New York metropolitan area. Professionally, he enjoyed and thrived at his work within the financial industry where he worked for several institutions. Socially, he lived much like New York City does, with high energy and boundless entertainment and always sought to exploit all that the city had to offer. Darrell used his passion for food and entertaining to touch and embrace countless persons. Perhaps his most superlative talent was in using comedic humor and shared laughter to delight those around him. It is no exaggeration to say that he enlivened any atmosphere, whether it was one of a single person or a large gathering of friends, family or both.Surely and without any doubt, his social abilities and talent to create laughter will remain his legacy for all who knew him to remember most. Plainly speaking, Darrell lived his life pursuing and fulfilling his own definitionof happiness. Fortunately for those that he loved and cared about, his happiness was in bringing times of happiness and lighted-heartedness to them whenever he could. For his family and friends, he was generous and loyal sometimes to a fault. He was never ashamed nor kept secrets about his desire to enjoy, possess and live with the best that was within his reach and never begrudged anyone else of doing the same. All of uswho knew him, no matter how brief, will cherish his memory and miss him beyond measure. Darrell was preceded in death by his father, John Melvin Simmons. He leaves to mourn his caring mother, Lucinda Simmons of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, two brothers, Melvin Simmons Jr. (Theresa) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Gregory Simmons Sr. of Jamaica, New York, two sisters, Angela Drayton of Columbia, South Carolina, Shirley Simmons Clark (William) of Rochester, New York, as well as five nieces, Kimberly Drayton, Kaleena Simmons, Courtney Simmons, Erin Simmons, & Camille Simmons, three nephews, Carnard Drayton, Gregory Simmons Jr. & Ahmad Simmons and one grand-nephew, Alexander Hayes, a very special companion Sean Pierce, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.