SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - Sabrina Francesca Manganella Simmons, 39, of 628 E. 51st Ave., Savannah, died Saturday, August 21, 2010, in a car accident.

A service to celebrate her life will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church at 225 W. President Street on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 6 pm.  A reception will follow.

On Thursday, August 26 at 6 pm, an evening gathering of remembrance and celebration will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 700 Christopher Drive.

Sabrina was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 15, 1971, and grew up in the Boston area.  After graduating from Blair Academy in 1989, she attended Tulane University, graduating in 1993. While at Tulane she met Jack Simmons, the love of her life, who she married in New Orleans in 1993. 

Sabrina worked at Nicholls State University in Louisiana, and then later for the Fair Housing Authorities of New Orleans and Jacksonville, Florida.  In 1998, their daughter Savannah was born, followed shortly thereafter by the family’s move to Savannah, and in 2000, their second daughter, Mary was born.  From the time her daughters were born, they were always her first priority.  Nonetheless, while working part time, she always accomplished an amazing amount.  In 2002, she received her Masters of Fine Arts in photography from Savannah College of Art & Design.  She was a writer, journalist, and photographer for many publications, editor of Skirt! Magazine, guest editor for Deep magazine, and advocacy editor for Connect Savannah.  She was an artist of many mediums, an instructor in photography at Armstrong, a substitute teacher at Charles Ellis Elementary School, and was active as a freelance photographer.  Her favorite subjects were children in general, and her daughters in particular. (sabrinasimmons. blogspot.com)  Sabrina was always an advocate for the community and for those in need, serving with many volunteer groups, including Chatham Savannah Citizen Advocacy and, most recently, on the board of the Flannery O’Connor Home.

Sabrina is survived by her husband Jack, daughters Savannah and Mary, mother Stephanie Hazard, who was severely injured in the same accident, stepfather Donald Hazard, sisters Robin (James) DeMuth and Katherine Hazard, brothers Matt and Chris Hazard, grandfather Hubert Whitlock, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She is preceded in death by grandmother Irene Whitlock.

Sabrina loved life, and she loved her life in Savannah: at home in Ardsley Park with her husband, daughters, dog, and backyard chickens.
 
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy – 517 East Congress Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401,  or the charity of your choice.