Iona Pickens Simmons was a native of Tampa, Florida, she entered this world on September 5, 1955. Born to the union of Eddie Lee and Lottie Pickens in Tampa, Florida. She was the fourth of four children. Iona attended public school in Tampa and graduated from C. Leon King Senior High School. Iona retired from Tampa Housing Authority and went on to work for St. Joseph Hospital for over twenty years. She was a former member of St. John Cathedral. At the time of her death, she was employed at Feeding Tampa Bay.

Iona was preceded in death by her parents, Eddie Lee and Lottie Pickens; brother, Fred Pickens; her aunt with whom she was raised, Betty Jackson Denson; and niece, Freddie Mae Pickens.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her daughter, Keycia Graves; son, James Pickens; two sisters, Gwendolyn Montgomery (Sidney) of Atlanta, GA and Rebecca Simmons (John) of Tampa, FL; three nieces, Debbie Pickens, Brenda Pickens, both of Tampa, FL and Colette Berry (Nigel)of Atlanta, GA; two nephews, Walter Pickens of Tampa, FL and Edward Montgomery of Atlanta, GA; two aunts, Annie Mae Felder of Newark, New Jersey and Thelma Jackson, of Miami, FL; eight great-nieces, all of Tampa, FL; seven great-nephews, all of Tampa, FL; the residents of the River Pines Community, the work family at Feeding Tampa Bay, personal friends tagged as The Crew, and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.