Aunt Joyce was one of the most warm, patient, and gentle people you'd ever want to meet. She was beautiful from the inside out, and was an excellent wife and mother, as well as an exemplary Christian. One of my earliest childhood memories was when my mother took my sister and I by train to Steubenville, when she and my Uncle Ralph were wed. We got to see her in her gown before the wedding, and she looked like a princess. It was very difficult to accept that just six years later, scleroderma would take her life from her far too soon. The following is from her funeral program:
OBITUARY
Mrs. Virginia Joyce Blackwell Simpson, wife of Ralph T. Simpson, of 2497 Renwood Place, Columbus, Ohio, was born April 28, 1945, at Ohio Valley Hospital in Steubenville, Ohio. She departed this life June 25, 1971, at the age of 26 years, one month, and 27 days in Cleveland Clinic Hospital.
During her early teens, she became the first Black girl to join the Steubenville chapter of the YWCA, where she later worked as a counselor for three years. She graduated from Wintersville Memorial High School - Class of 1963. In her high school years, she participated in GAA, Y-Teens, Girls Choir, Mixed Choir, Girl's Assembly, and Future Teachers of America (with honors).
In May 1964, she moved to Columbus, Ohio where she became employed at Lazarus Department Store. She graduated from Mata Business Machine College in 1965, and met Mr. Ralph T. Simpson.
In July '64, Virginia was Baptized in Jesus' name at Apostolic Church of Christ in Columbus, under Bishop K. F. Smith receiving the precious gift of Holy Ghost. She was joined in Holy Matrimony on June 12, 1965 to Mr. R. Simpson at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Steubenville, Ohio by Elder Floyd Johnson, assisted by the late Rev. J. W. Wooden. To this union were born three children: Roxann, Stephney Kay, and Ralph Timothy, Jr.
Being a member of Brentnell Apostolic, she joined the Young Adult Choir, the Young Married Group, the Ohio District Council, Young Adult Conference, and taught in Vacation Bible School.
Beside her husband and children, she leaves her parents Mr. & Mrs. James Blackwell of Wintersville, two brothers Clyde and Frank of Columbus; one sister, Rita Blackwell in Wintersville; her maternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. James Sowell of Steubenville, Ohio; and a number of relatives and friends. Three of her favorite songs were: How Great Thou Art, Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul, and His Eye is on the Sparrow.
OBITUARY
Mrs. Virginia Joyce Blackwell Simpson, wife of Ralph T. Simpson, of 2497 Renwood Place, Columbus, Ohio, was born April 28, 1945, at Ohio Valley Hospital in Steubenville, Ohio. She departed this life June 25, 1971, at the age of 26 years, one month, and 27 days in Cleveland Clinic Hospital.
During her early teens, she became the first Black girl to join the Steubenville chapter of the YWCA, where she later worked as a counselor for three years. She graduated from Wintersville Memorial High School - Class of 1963. In her high school years, she participated in GAA, Y-Teens, Girls Choir, Mixed Choir, Girl's Assembly, and Future Teachers of America (with honors).
In May 1964, she moved to Columbus, Ohio where she became employed at Lazarus Department Store. She graduated from Mata Business Machine College in 1965, and met Mr. Ralph T. Simpson.
In July '64, Virginia was Baptized in Jesus' name at Apostolic Church of Christ in Columbus, under Bishop K. F. Smith receiving the precious gift of Holy Ghost. She was joined in Holy Matrimony on June 12, 1965 to Mr. R. Simpson at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Steubenville, Ohio by Elder Floyd Johnson, assisted by the late Rev. J. W. Wooden. To this union were born three children: Roxann, Stephney Kay, and Ralph Timothy, Jr.
Being a member of Brentnell Apostolic, she joined the Young Adult Choir, the Young Married Group, the Ohio District Council, Young Adult Conference, and taught in Vacation Bible School.
Beside her husband and children, she leaves her parents Mr. & Mrs. James Blackwell of Wintersville, two brothers Clyde and Frank of Columbus; one sister, Rita Blackwell in Wintersville; her maternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. James Sowell of Steubenville, Ohio; and a number of relatives and friends. Three of her favorite songs were: How Great Thou Art, Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul, and His Eye is on the Sparrow.
Aunt Joyce was one of the most warm, patient, and gentle people you'd ever want to meet. She was beautiful from the inside out, and was an excellent wife and mother, as well as an exemplary Christian. One of my earliest childhood memories was when my mother took my sister and I by train to Steubenville, when she and my Uncle Ralph were wed. We got to see her in her gown before the wedding, and she looked like a princess. It was very difficult to accept that just six years later, scleroderma would take her life from her far too soon. The following is from her funeral program:
OBITUARY
Mrs. Virginia Joyce Blackwell Simpson, wife of Ralph T. Simpson, of 2497 Renwood Place, Columbus, Ohio, was born April 28, 1945, at Ohio Valley Hospital in Steubenville, Ohio. She departed this life June 25, 1971, at the age of 26 years, one month, and 27 days in Cleveland Clinic Hospital.
During her early teens, she became the first Black girl to join the Steubenville chapter of the YWCA, where she later worked as a counselor for three years. She graduated from Wintersville Memorial High School - Class of 1963. In her high school years, she participated in GAA, Y-Teens, Girls Choir, Mixed Choir, Girl's Assembly, and Future Teachers of America (with honors).
In May 1964, she moved to Columbus, Ohio where she became employed at Lazarus Department Store. She graduated from Mata Business Machine College in 1965, and met Mr. Ralph T. Simpson.
In July '64, Virginia was Baptized in Jesus' name at Apostolic Church of Christ in Columbus, under Bishop K. F. Smith receiving the precious gift of Holy Ghost. She was joined in Holy Matrimony on June 12, 1965 to Mr. R. Simpson at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Steubenville, Ohio by Elder Floyd Johnson, assisted by the late Rev. J. W. Wooden. To this union were born three children: Roxann, Stephney Kay, and Ralph Timothy, Jr.
Being a member of Brentnell Apostolic, she joined the Young Adult Choir, the Young Married Group, the Ohio District Council, Young Adult Conference, and taught in Vacation Bible School.
Beside her husband and children, she leaves her parents Mr. & Mrs. James Blackwell of Wintersville, two brothers Clyde and Frank of Columbus; one sister, Rita Blackwell in Wintersville; her maternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. James Sowell of Steubenville, Ohio; and a number of relatives and friends. Three of her favorite songs were: How Great Thou Art, Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul, and His Eye is on the Sparrow.
OBITUARY
Mrs. Virginia Joyce Blackwell Simpson, wife of Ralph T. Simpson, of 2497 Renwood Place, Columbus, Ohio, was born April 28, 1945, at Ohio Valley Hospital in Steubenville, Ohio. She departed this life June 25, 1971, at the age of 26 years, one month, and 27 days in Cleveland Clinic Hospital.
During her early teens, she became the first Black girl to join the Steubenville chapter of the YWCA, where she later worked as a counselor for three years. She graduated from Wintersville Memorial High School - Class of 1963. In her high school years, she participated in GAA, Y-Teens, Girls Choir, Mixed Choir, Girl's Assembly, and Future Teachers of America (with honors).
In May 1964, she moved to Columbus, Ohio where she became employed at Lazarus Department Store. She graduated from Mata Business Machine College in 1965, and met Mr. Ralph T. Simpson.
In July '64, Virginia was Baptized in Jesus' name at Apostolic Church of Christ in Columbus, under Bishop K. F. Smith receiving the precious gift of Holy Ghost. She was joined in Holy Matrimony on June 12, 1965 to Mr. R. Simpson at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Steubenville, Ohio by Elder Floyd Johnson, assisted by the late Rev. J. W. Wooden. To this union were born three children: Roxann, Stephney Kay, and Ralph Timothy, Jr.
Being a member of Brentnell Apostolic, she joined the Young Adult Choir, the Young Married Group, the Ohio District Council, Young Adult Conference, and taught in Vacation Bible School.
Beside her husband and children, she leaves her parents Mr. & Mrs. James Blackwell of Wintersville, two brothers Clyde and Frank of Columbus; one sister, Rita Blackwell in Wintersville; her maternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. James Sowell of Steubenville, Ohio; and a number of relatives and friends. Three of her favorite songs were: How Great Thou Art, Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul, and His Eye is on the Sparrow.
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