Dr. Tori Tanisha Thomas Simmons was born March 18, 1975 to the late Shirley Ann Thomas in Barnwell County, South Carolina. She entered the gates of Heaven on May 25, 2025 at Lexington Community Hospice House in Lexington, South Carolina.

Her faith was rooted early in life when she joined Macedonia Baptist Church where she taught vacation Bible school, was a member of the Youth Christian Association and sang in the youth choir.

Tori was educated in the Blackville, South Carolina, Public School system and was a proud graduate of Blackville-Hilda High School, Class of 1993 where she was a varsity cheerleader and a saxophone player for the Carolina Cavalier Marching Band.

A lifelong advocate for education, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master's in Secondary English Education from the University of South Carolina. Her pursuit of excellence led her to complete an M.Ed. in Divergent Learning at Columbia College and later return to USC for a second master's degree in educational administration. She ultimately earned a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, a reflection of her belief in the transformative power of learning.

Her spiritual journey continued in Columbia as a devoted member of Zion Mill Creek Baptist Church and later The Brook, where she served faithfully for over three decades in ministries such as First Touch. A spirit-filled woman of God, Tori lived her faith through service and love.

In 1998, Tori began her career in Richland County School District One, where she remained for nearly 27 years. She began teaching at Hand Middle School in 1998, serving as an English teacher and literacy coach for 15 years. She later became Lead for the Induction and Retention Program, then advanced to Instructional Coach in the district's Professional Development Office. Most recently, Tori served as Assistant Principal at A.C. Flora High School, where her legacy of leadership, mentorship, and service continued. Among the many meaningful relationships in her life, Tori cherished the deep bonds she formed with her dear friends of Alpha Eta chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma - International Society of Key Women Educators, where she was the first Black woman to become a member, and FOCs of Hand Middle School, whose sisterhood and support brought her great joy and fulfillment.

When she wasn't educating the leaders of the future or mentoring fellow educators, Tori enjoyed watching the University of South Carolina Gamecocks football and basketball teams. Tori loved sports and was an avid, knowledgeable, enthusiastic fan of college football. If she wasn't watching sports or cooking shows, she enjoyed procedural dramas, especially Law and Order. Tori radiated Christian love through her compassion, generosity, and her joyful spirit. Her laughter was a melody of light that warmed every space she entered and continues to echo in the hearts of all who knew her. She carried herself with extraordinary strength, facing life's challenges with quiet resilience and never a complaint.

She was preceded in death by her mother Shirley and her grandfather, Mr. Rayford Thomas, Jr. Those left to cherish her precious memories include her beloved son Master Thomas Joseph Simmons and his father, Mr. Marcus Simmons of Columbia, SC; her grandmother, Mrs. Nettie Mae Thomas of Blackville, SC; two aunts, Mrs. Sandra Beach and Ms. Tonya Thomas of Blackville, SC; three uncles Mr. Walter Thomas of Williston, SC, Mr. Rodney (Grace) Thomas of Columbia, SC and Mr. Anthony Thomas of Oklahoma City, OK; cousin, Ms. Melody Thomas; two daughters of her heart, Ms. Lacy Bland and Ms. Aubrianna Shaw; two sisters of the heart, Ms. Crystal Wingate and Mrs. Paola Bell, the incredible Sisterhood, and a host of other relatives, friends, and students.