Johnnie M. Simpson
On Tuesday, December 15, 2020, Johnnie M. Simpson, age 95, peacefully transitioned from labor to reward. The third child of Robert L Cooper and Etta Mae (Gragg) Cooper, Johnnie was born on August 3, 1925, in Acworth, GA. Johnnie grew up in Acworth, GA, and moved to New York when she was 16. She then moved to Dalton, Georgia, where she met the love of her life, future Major League Baseball player Harry “Suitcase” Simpson.
Johnnie and Harry were married in the fall of 1946. To their loving union, five children were born. Due to her husband’s profession as a professional baseball player, they lived in several places, including San Diego, CA, Kansas City, KS, Cleveland, OH, New York, and Cuba.
After moving to the Akron area, Johnnie attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church and then Arlington Street Church of God. She was a licensed cosmetologist in the Akron area for over 70 years. Johnnie began her career working at a small beauty salon in Barberton, OH then moved to Edinburgh Beauty Salon in Akron. During the 1980s, she became co-owner of Le Premiere Beauty Salon in north Akron with her daughter Gwen. Johnnie used her gift to help her clients feel beautiful both inside and out.
Johnnie had many passions. She loved music and was self-taught on piano and organ. Quite the horticulturist, Johnnie also enjoyed taking care of her plants that bloomed so gloriously in her home. However, the family was Johnnie’s greatest love. She relished the opportunity to spend time with her family and traveled to Hawaii as often as she could to see her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. She was a loving wife and doting mother who could often be found spending her days off babysitting her great-grandchildren.
Johnnie was preceded in death by her husband Harry Simpson; sons Harry Simpson, Jr. and Michael Simpson; daughter Gwen Simpson; parents Robert L. Cooper and Etta Mae Cooper; sisters Mary Pearle Winfrey, Elnora Cloyd, and Mable Powell; and brothers Robert L. Copper, Jr., and Alonzo Cooper.
She leaves to celebrate her life and memory her loving son, Gary Simpson of Akron, OH; devoted daughter, Harion (John) Simpson Davis of Fort Washington, MD; brother, Gerald (Veronica) Cooper; sister, Dorothy (Vince) Nevins; grandchildren, Carmelita (Kaleo) Westbrook, Lashawna (Marquis) Grimes, Keia (Jason) Williams, Michael (Breanne) Simpson Jr., Marcus (Daina) Simpson, Michelle (Tuli) Malepeai, and Maurice (Kayanna) Simpson; daughter-in-law, Eunice Simpson; 20 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-granddaughter, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.
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