Jean Simpson

On September 11, 2025, Jean Elizabeth Bailey Simpson, passed peacefully in her home at the age of 101 years and 324 days. Born in Hubbard, Ohio on October 22, 1923 to George Russell Bailey and Minnie Madge “Dolly” Bailey, Jean was the youngest of four sisters who preceded her in death – Virginia, Cy, and Ruth. She graduated from Hubbard High School, where she played clarinet, golf, and tennis. Soon after graduating, she met her husband, Robert “Bob” D. Simpson, who enlisted in the army in 1943. Jean worked as a book keeper for Powell Pressed Steel in Youngstown, Ohio during the war. On August 4, 1945, Bob married Jean while on leave. When the war ended, the newlyweds moved to Princeton, New Jersey, where Bob was a student at Westminster Choir College. While Bob finished school, Jean worked as a telephone operator at the phone company in Princeton. Bob would continue on as a professor at the Choir College, and Princeton would be their home for over 30 years. Jean was a vibrant member of the community at the Choir College, and her hospitality was well known with the students, sharing Christmas cookies with carolers, making countless casseroles, and hosting regular dinner parties in their little home. She raised her three children, who she is survived by – Mark (Jane) Simpson, Karen (Whit) Blakeley, and Anne (Jim) Seifert. Her Christian faith was the foundation of her life, and the family were active members at Princeton First United Methodist Church, where Jean was a vital center of a group of lifelong friends who shared meals, raised children, celebrated Christmases, exchanged White Elephant gifts, and went on camping trips together. In 1979, Bob and Jean left Princeton for Atlanta, Georgia, where Bob joined the staff at Shallowford Presbyterian Church as the minister of music. While at Shallowford, Jean was an active member of the Dottie Haavie Circle, an enthusiastic supporter of the music ministry, and a faithful volunteer preparing meals for Habitat for Humanity builds. She worked in accounts payable at Emory University Hospital for ten years, retiring in 1992. During their years in Tucker, Jean welcomed nine grandchildren, who regularly gathered for celebrations and holidays around her table. In 2014, they left their home in Tucker at the age of 90 to be closer to family north of Atlanta. Jean was known for her mischievous streak and her quick wit. She pulled many a prank on friends, sneaking out of wedding receptions to short sheet beds or rearrange furniture. Her humor was sharp and her laugh was infectious until the very end. Wherever Jean went in her life, she built a community around dinner tables and shared meals. She had an easy way of being herself – charming, caring, witty – that always drew people in. In the years since Bob’s passing, Jean became a beloved member of the community at The Phoenix of Braselton, or, as she affectionately called it, “the home.” She lived independently right until the end, attending weekly ‘girls nights’ with her daughters, hosting her grandchildren and her nine great-grandchildren, and reading voraciously. Many people embraced, celebrated, and supported her, including her dog walkers Emily and Callie, the incredible staff of Phoenix, and the residents of Phoenix who supported her and her family in her final days. A Memorial Service for Jean Simpson will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 2:00pm at Shallowford Presbyterian Church, 2375 Shallowford Rd,. Atlanta, GA 30345. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following: Shallowford Presbyterian Church, 2375 Shallowford Road, Atlanta Georgia 30345, to fund the Food Pantry; or Golden Rule Hospice Foundation 4080 McGinnis Ferry Rd. Suite 602, Alpharetta, GA 3000.

Jean Simpson

October 22, 1923 - September 11, 2025