Nona Jo Stembridge Simpson, 76, died Saturday, December 30, 2006, at her residence. Graveside funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 1, 2007, at Oakey Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Berrien County. Rev. Wayne Simpson will officiate with burial to follow in Oakey Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 31, 2006, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Ms. Simpson was born on January 5, 1930 in Berrien County and was the daughter of Burie Washington Stembridge and Lou Ola Baker Stembridge, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Owen Simpson; three brothers, Buford Stembridge, Bud Stembridge and Jimmy Stembridge; and one sister, Patsy Proctor. She was employed in the lunchroom for the public school system and was a member of Oakey Grove Primitive Baptist Church.
Ms. Simpson is survived by two sons, Wayne Simpson of Raleigh, North Carolina and Ricky Simpson of Berrien County; one daughter, Jo Bridges of Willacoochee; three sisters, Audrey Blount of Lenox, Jane Simpson of South Carolina and Mary Spradley of Nashville; seven grandchildren, Denise Koogler, Craig Simpson, Chad Simpson, Alicia Wetherington, Don Bruner, Lucretia Simpson and Shanna Baggett; and 17 great grandchildren, Christopher Koogler, Andrew Koogler, Codi Simpson, Kevin Wetherington, Whitney Wetherington, Britney Wetherington, Taylor Simpson, Charlie Simpson, Adrien Bruner, Owen Bruner, Jared Bruner, Alexis Bruner, Kialah Simpson, Justin Baggett, Jacob Baggett, Patrick Baggett and Nick Baggett.