From WYTV Website:

A well-known and respected Youngstown spiritual leader has passed away.

Reverend Lonnie Simon retired from New Bethel Baptist Church in 1996, after serving the church for more than 30 years. The congregation honored Simon with music earlier this month.

His son, Kenneth, now leads the church.

Simon marched with Doctor Martin Luther King Junior during the Civil Rights movement.

“He is going to be greatly missed in this community. We don’t have or see those types of leaders coming up today. He was born and bred for leadership and his life exhibited that from the time that I’ve known him to the present,” said friend Dee Crawford.

Simon is survived by his wife, Florence.