Willie Simpson, Jr.

The life of Willie Simpson, Jr., came to a close on his 77th birthday, August 9, 2021, at Conway Regional Medical Center with his family at his bedside. He was the 10th child of fourteen children born to the union of Willie, Sr., and Letha Vaden Simpson on August 9, 1944, in Clark County, Arkansas.

As a boy, he learned the value of hard work and the responsibility of being a man in supporting his family. Willie was a member of the Church of the Living God Pillar Ground of Truth in Vaden, Arkansas, and was a graduate of Bell High School in Gurdon, Arkansas.

On December 16, 1968, he married Daise Lee Lock and to this union, seven children were born. He worked tirelessly as a truck driver with White Trucking Company for over 40 years. He was always so bright, so alert, and so independent; he did things his way. He never lost his dry sense of humor or spontaneous biblical quotes.

He was a basketball enthusiast who loved the Los Angeles Lakers and any team that Lebron James played for. His greatest excitement was road trips to Branson and being around his family. He often took time to read his bible and sing old hymns. He was known for his rendition of “Roll, Jordan Roll”, his spirit lifted as he sang the line “I want to get to heaven when I die to hear ole Jordan roll”.

 He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Daise Lee Simpson (December 16, 1951 - March 24, 2011); two sons, Anthony Lewis Simpson (April 1992) and Brandon Simpson (December 2020); siblings, Ruby Govan, Ruth Simpson, Ida S. Reed, Ivory Simpson, Gertie Simpson, and Willie H. Simpson.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his children, Mable Lock of El Dorado, AR, Stephanie Robinson of Conway, AR, Mechiel Leblue of Little Rock, AR, Sedrice Simpson of Sparkman, AR, and Brandy Simpson of Conway, AR; his grandchildren whom all once lived in his home, Wallace Lock, Darrell Simpson, Leon Samuel, Jr.,  Bianca Simpson, Dillion Holcomb, Donovan Roscoe, Alexia Robinson, Lawrence Gregory, O’Ashia Avery, Anias Hall, Jayden Hughes, Chole’ Hughes, Will Leblue, and Cidney Simpson; eight great-grandchildren six sisters, Dorothy Boga of Arkadelphia, AR, Ethel Gilliam of Sacramento, CA, Willie Mae Woodson of Arkadelphia, AR; Charlene Adams of Arkadelphia, AR, Lonnie Gould of Arkadelphia, AR; and one brother, Delton (Shanna) Simpson of Arkadelphia, AR; a caravan of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and a community of friends who will forever miss him.

Public visitation will be Friday, August 20, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home. Services will be held graveside at noon on Saturday, August 21, 2021, at Vaden Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Hughes, Jason Simpson, Christopher Gould, Patrick Harris, Roger Govan, Patrick Eason, Ricky Govan and Ricky Craig. Honorable to mention are his grandsons.