CALEDONIA - Since the 1960s, Johnnie M. Simmons has been writing and sending out three to four spiritual letters each month. Her family believes she had touched thousands of lives with her messages of faith.

Now, at age 100, she continues to write and has passed on her legacy of letters to others.

"My mother's spirit mission is to write spiritual letters," said Vallie Rogers, one of Simmons eight children.

Those who are sick, incarcerated or living in nursing homes are among the countless people who have received some of Simmons' writings.

"It has caused several folks to wait for the Lord," Simmons said of her letters.

Simmons has always had a strong faith. One of 10 children born to the late John and Elizabeth Boyd Stricklin in Mississippi, her father was a deacon in the church and a Sunday school superintendent. She and her siblings were raised in the Baptist church.

Known for her writing gift at a young age, Simmons remembers getting starting writing scripture letters at age 13.

"My brother asked me to write a love letter," she said.

Simmons did, but lost the letter. It was found by a reverend in the church who suggested she should be writing scripture letters instead of love letters, and taught her how.

Simmons didn't send out those early letters. She married the late George Simmons and together they had 10 children, eight of whom are still living. While she still wrote, she spent most of her time raising her family.

Rogers said she thinks it was about 1960, when the family moved to Racine, that Simmons' letters were sent out.

They joined St. Paul Baptist Church here, where Simmons immediately joined the senior mission group. She served as vice president for many years and later became the president. She traveled throughout the U.S. attending the National Baptist Convention.

Simmons also worked as a housekeeper for All Saints Healthcare for 13 years. During that time she prayed many prayers for the sick, and often visited people in the hospital as part of her mission work.

While her mobility is limited and she can't actually go to the hospital to visit people anymore, Simmons still writes her letters, which are edited and sent out to those in need.

"Some of them I know and some of them I don't," Simmons said of the recipients.

Some of the people write back to her to tell her how she had touched their lives.

A licensed missionary, she continues to be involved in the state Baptist convention and is known throughout Wisconsin for her missionary work. At St. Paul, Simmons still serves on the mother board, senior missionary society and deaconess board.

The writing of encouraging letters of faith has been passed down to Simmons' son John, and also to her goddaughter in Mississippi.

"The objective is to bring people to Christ," Rogers said. "We all have that responsibility to bring people into the fold. She's a strong believer in prayer."

About seven years ago, Simmons was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She was only given until the end of that year to live, her daughter said. "She believes in healing through prayer," Rogers said.

Although she has to use oxygen sometimes, Simmons still rises at 4:30 a.m. each day. She showers and dresses herself. She makes her own bed.

She attends church, board meetings, reads her Bible and writes her letters.

"Jesus is the rock, you know," Simmons said.

The whole family has a strong faith, Rogers said.

To date, Simmons has 35 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, 16 great-great-grandchildren, and two great-great-great-grandchildren.

When Simmons turned 100 on Aug. 16, the family held a big party here, which about 600 people attended. Cards came pouring in from others.

In the rec room of Rogers' home, where Simmons lives, one wall is lined with plaques and awards sent to her. They include kudos from President Barack Obama, Gov. Jim Doyle, state senators, Racine County, the village of Caledonia, her church and her family.

"She's proud of these," Rogers said.