Mrs. Ralph Simmons of Rome announces the engagement of her daughter Eva Michelle Simmons of Birmingham, Ala., to Stephen Merritt Parham of Birmingham, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Parham of Clarkesville and the late Rebecca Price Parham. Miss Simmons is also the daughter of the late Ralph “Red” Simmons.

Miss Simmons is a graduate of Darlington School. She received a bachelor of science degree in health care management from the University of Alabama in Tus-caloosa, Ala. She is a member of the Rome Girls Cotillion and Rome Symphony Debutantes. She is employed at Meridian Healthcare Staffing, L.L.C. in Atlanta.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Bruce Nichols and the late Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt Simmons.

Parham is a graduate of Milton High School in Alpharetta. He received a bachelor of science degree in Latin and a master’s degree in classics from the University of Georgia. He was a member of Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity, was a Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude. He received his J.D. with honors from Emory University school of law. While at Emory, he was the executive articles editor for the Emory Law Journal. He is employed as a lawyer at Balch and Bingham L.L.P. in Birmingham.

The groom-elect is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Furman Parham and the late Mr and Mrs. A.L. Prince.

The wedding is planned for Saturday, Aug. 3, 2002, at the Cloister, Sea Island