By Staff
Mr. Raleigh Lee Simpson, 78, of 80 E. 110th St., New York, N.Y., died Sunday, July 29, 2007, at home.
A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday in Bethel Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ), Roper, with Elder Benny Mackey officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Mr. Simpson was born in Washington County on Nov. 7, 1928. He was the son of the late Joe and Edna Simpson. He worked as a carpenter for Mockler Overhead Doors Inc. in New Jersey for 50 years. He was married to Minnie Simpson, who survives. He was a member of Rocky Mount Baptist Church, where he served as chairman of the deacons, and Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.
Survivors include five sons, Ronald Simpson, Kenneth Simpson, Raleigh Simpson Jr. and Raleigh Simpson Jr. II, all of Roper, and Grover McDowell Simpson of Knightdale; one daughter, Barbara Jean Simpson Elliott of Salisbury, Md.; a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and six sisters, Jessie Simpson of Philadelphia, Bernice Harper of Rochester, N.Y., Catherine Cradle and Frances Swain, both of Plymouth, Peggy Jackson of Roper, and Mary Boone of Edenton.
He was preceded in death by three sisters, Gerlene Simpson, Loraine Simpson and Myrtle Griffin and one brother, Irwin Simpson.
Arrangements are by Puckett-Purkett Funeral Service, Roper.