Obituary of Jennifer Michele Lockard

Jennifer Michele Simmons Lockard, affectionately called “Jen” by many, was born on Wednesday, September 23, 1981, to Michael Keith and Michele Ruth (Parker) Simmons.  She was born in Washington, DC, at Columbia Hospital for Women, and raised in Fort Washington, Maryland. She was baptized at St. Johns the Evangelist Catholic Church in Clinton, MD.  She departed this life on Monday, April 12, 2021, at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital in Clinton, Maryland.

Jennifer was educated in the Prince George’s County public school system, attending Avalon Elementary and Lord Baltimore (Isaac J. Gourdine) Middle School, and graduating from Friendly High School.  She continued her education at Prince George’s Community College where she received an associate degree in Communications in 2004.

Jennifer was always very diligent and hard-working.  Shortly after graduating, she set her sights on becoming an entrepreneur and successfully started Pink Rose Events in 2001.  Later, she began working in the medical industry, as a medical receptionist at Massa & Associates Audiology Center (Alexandria Hearing Centers) and at Fort Washington Medical Center.  She continued to work until her illness prohibited her from doing so.

Jennifer married Kevin Bernard Lockard at Ebenezer AME Church on October 16, 2004.  After nearly 10 years of marriage, they continued to share a special bond and remained very close.  They never had children but were the proud fur-parents of two loving, cuddly, and playful Yorkshire Terriers (yorkies) named Koda and Bodie. 

Jennifer enjoyed the beauty of life and being with friends, whether it was shopping, roller skating, bowling, planning her next birthday celebration, and which trips she was going to take next.

Jennifer leaves to cherish her rich memories: her father, Michael K. Simmons, Sr.; mother, Michele R. Simmons; brothers: Michael K. Simmons, Jr. and Stephen O. Allen-Simmons (Jennifer); sister, Jatori T. Harley; two uncles: Ronald A. Simmons and William J. Jackson, Jr.; two aunts, Denise T. Primrose and Herolena Blair-Goodman; nephew, Dallas; and nieces, Laila and Morgan and a host of other relatives and friends.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Lupus Foundation Of America.