Her sister, Serena Simmons Connelly, is the director of philanthropy at the same foundation, where she started as a grant reviewer in 1999. She holds an undergraduate degree from Brown University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Harold Simmons’s widow, Annette, inherited all of Valhi’s preferred stock, which has a liquidation value of $667.34 million, according to the company’s annual report. The preferred shares have the right to receive an annual $40 million dividend.
Redacted Will
The late billionaire’s will was redacted by Dallas probate judge Michael E. Miller after the sisters petitioned the court to seal the public document in January.
“Like Mrs. Simmons, Ms. Connelly also is very concerned about her and her children’s privacy, safety and security if the Court records in Mr. Simmons’ estate file are not sealed,” Carrie Huff, Connelly’s attorney, wrote in a letter to the court on Jan. 30.
A copy of the will shows Simmons distributed ranches in Texas and Arkansas, as well as his Dallas Cowboys luxury suite, to various individuals. He also ordered the sale of his Montecito, California residence, where he was a neighbor of Oprah Winfrey.
The will said the sale of the Montecito property and other assets listed in the estate could be worth at least $444 million after taxes. Annette Simmons was given the couple’s primary residence in Texas and its contents. Other items cited by Simmons in the will were also redacted by the court.
Disinherited Daughters
Two other daughters of the late billionaire didn’t inherit any assets from the estate, according to the will. The pair -- Scheryle Patigian and Andrea Swanson -- sued Simmons in 1997, claiming their father was misusing assets he had placed in trust for them.
The parties settled out of court in 1998, with each daughter receiving $50 million, according to a Feb. 11, 1998, article in the New York Times.