JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville community and medical field are mourning the death of Dr. Charles Errington Simmons III, a pediatrician who spent decades caring for North Florida families and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Simmons, 74, died July 13. Those who knew him describe him as compassionate, patient, and deeply committed to the people he served.
“He was a gentle soul but a giant in the community,” said Dr. Christina Monford-McNish, a cosmetic and general dentist in Jacksonville who was once Simmons’ patient — and later, his apprentice.
From Patient to Professional
Monford-McNish’s connection to Dr. Simmons began in childhood, when he was her pediatrician. As a high school student, she landed a job at his office through a medical apprenticeship program he created for local students…