Nettalyn Rae Tolbert

Dr. Nettalyn Rae (Simms) Tolbert: A Life Dedicated to Education, Family, and Faith Dr. Nettalyn Rae (Simms) Tolbert, an esteemed educator, devoted wife, loving mother, and cherished grandmother, passed away on August 4th, at the age of 81. Born on July 6, 1942, Nettalyn embarked on a 45-year journey in education, leaving an indelible mark on countless lives. A graduate of Indiana University and a member of the Tau Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Elementary Education in 1964, Nettalyn's commitment to education as a catalyst for change was unwavering. Nettalyn’s teaching career began at William A. Bell Elementary School (#60) in Indianapolis, Indiana, before relocating to Atlanta in 1968. Joining the Atlanta Public School System, she shared her passion at Beecher Hills Elementary School while simultaneously completing her Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology at Indiana University in 1971. Even as she nurtured her growing family, welcoming her sons Jason and Robert, Jr., Nettalyn's dedication remained steadfast. Her career evolved to become an instructional supervisor with Atlanta Public Schools, where she impacted teachers across the system for fifteen years. She embraced principalship at Hutchinson Elementary School and Oglethorpe Elementary School, leaving a legacy of positive change and inspired programs that garnered heartfelt testimonials from students and teachers alike upon her retirement in 2001. She achieved her Ed.S. and then later her Ph.D. in 1994. Dr. Tolbert’s commitment endured even in retirement. Her influence extended through educational consultations, including a five-year professorship at Georgia State University. Her devotion to sharing knowledge remained undiminished as she continued to teach Bible Study at her church, exemplifying her unwavering faith until her passing. Nettalyn would testify that she never could have done this without her loving and devoted husband Robert E. Tolbert, Sr. whom she met in 1970, and ultimately married in 1972, beginning fifty years of marriage. Her role as a grandmother brought her profound joy. She cherished her six grandchildren: Jason Jr., Daniel, Olivia, Robert III, James, and Madilyn. Her legacy of excellence, faith, and the pursuit of knowledge resonates in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and the students she mentored. Dr. Nettalyn Tolbert is survived by her beloved husband, Robert E. Tolbert Sr., her sons, Jason (Tiffany) Tolbert and Robert (Rita) Tolbert, Jr., her cherished grandchildren, her siblings Cecelia Dodson, William (Johanna) Simms, Sharon (Alfred) Broome, Rosalind (Wesley) Wynter, and Laurene Simms. She is preceded by her parents Rosa Lee Simms and Frank T. Simms, Sr., as well as Frank T. Simms, Jr. (brother), Elizabeth Simms (stepmother), Beverly Harris (stepsister), Brian Dodson (nephew), and James Dodson (brother in-law). May her legacy of love, education, and faith continue to inspire all those who were fortunate enough to know her. "In loving memory, forever in our hearts." Services entrusted to Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, Rockdale Chapel, 1999 Hwy. 138 Se, Conyers, GA 30013

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Nettalyn Rae Tolbert

July 6, 1942 - August 4, 2023