About 80 years ago, two kids at Lincoln Grant Elementary School in Covington had a crush on each other.

The teacher told the little girl: "I think you are seeing too much of that little boy."

Neither one listened to the teacher. The crush continued through elementary and high school. On March 23, that couple, David and Cora Simms, will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with friends and relatives at the Mallard Cove Retirement Homes in Sharonville.

"It doesn't seem as if it has been 70 years," said Cora Simms, 89.

"We have had our ups and downs, but most of ours were ups instead of downs. I guess I can attribute our longevity to our love for each other and the love of God. Every time something went wrong between us, we prayed for each other."

David and Cora Simms will mark their 70th wedding anniversary March 23. Photo provided

David Simms, 91, worked as a baker at Milacron Inc. (formerly Cincinnati Milling Machine Co.) for 38 years.

Cora Simms worked as a geriatric nurse at Christ Hospital and at St. Margaret Hall in Hyde Park.

They are members of Greater Liberty Baptist Church in Madisonville. Their hobbies varied sometimes. Both loved playing cards. While he preferred tennis, she liked badminton and the daily crossword puzzle.

They are the parents of four children: LaVenia Anita Simms of Pleasant Run Farms; David Simms Jr., (wife, Bettie) of Indianapolis; Diana Smith (husband, Rudolph), Springfield Township; and Gloria Childress (husband, James) of Bond Hill.

"At 89, my mother is still very alert," said LaVenia Simms. "She can still remember what I wore to my high school prom and the color of my fingernail polish."

David Simms doesn't like to talk much. When asked about something he doesn't remember, he is smart enough to tell you to ask Cora.

African-American students attending schools in Hamilton County have until April 15 to apply for the Milton Hinton Scholarship, administered by the Cincinnati Chapter of the NAACP.

Moss White, chairman of the scholarship committee, said applicants must write an essay focusing on black leadership in the next five years.

Eight scholarships are offered for $2,500 each.

Students attending colleges in Greater Cincinnati are eligible, as are African-American youths who are members of the NAACP.

Applications may be obtained from the NAACP office, 4439 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45229, or call 281-1900.

The story of Harriet Tubman, performed by the Youth Empowerment Project, will be told at 4 p.m. today at Peace Baptist Church in Avondale. It was canceled Feb. 5 because of bad weather. It is sponsored by the Southwest District of the Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.

Allen Howard's "Some Good News'' column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions, contact him at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.