Obituary of Mary Simpson

Mary Buckner Simpson Mary Buckner Simpson, of Aldersgate Retirement Community, formerly of Columbia, SC, passed away on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 surrounded by her children. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 9, 2012 at Aldersgate in the Fellowship Hall of the Ray Hall Community Center. The family will receive friends after the service in the main parlor. Mary will be interred with military honors at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia, SC at 11:00 on Monday, June 11, 2012. Mary was born June 19, 1918 in Charleston, SC and began a life filled with the love of family, faith, country and friends of all ages. She will be remembered for her kindness, appreciation of life and humor, as well as for her love of music, dance, story telling, reading, crossword puzzles, Bridge and chocolate. She had a boundless sense of adventure to the amazement and admiration of others much younger. Every mother is precious. Our mother was truly a blessing, a good friend and a delight to know. What a wonderful lady! Mary?s family relocated to North Augusta, SC when she was a child and over her lifetime she returned often to her beloved Charleston. After graduating high school, she attended and graduated as a Registered Nurse from University Hospital School of Nursing, Augusta, GA in 1940. She briefly practiced nursing in the private sector before enlisting in the U. S. Army Nurse Corps (ANC) in July 1941, six months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mary was Honorably Discharged from the ANC in 1946 and remained in the ANC U. S. Army Reserve until her Honorable Discharge in 1951. She often shared stories of those years and her sense of pride in serving her country. Her parents had the honor and worry of Mary and her two younger brothers serving in World War II. In 1949 she embarked on the adventurous life of an Army Officer?s wife, fulfilling her love of travel throughout the U.S. and Europe. She made many friends all over the world, frequently around a Bridge table, playing for over eight decades. Many of those years were as a member of the Ft. Jackson Officer?s Wive?s Club Friday Bridge Group. Mary made relocating a family over a 28 year Army career fun. She did it all with amazing efficiency and grace and when things didn?t go as planned, found the humor in it. She approached each move with excitement and adventure and by example taught her children to face the unknown and embrace change. As an officer?s wife, Mary had many official and unofficial duties and was always a gracious and fun hostess and guest. Wherever they lived, Mary was active and involved in community and military base activities, frequently in a leadership roll. She was an active member of many Army Officer?s Wive?s Clubs. Mary and her family retired to Columbia, SC in the early 70s and she returned to the joy of nursing for a few years before starting a long career in sales and as the Children?s Department Manager at Tapp?s at Woodhill Mall. Many times over the years she or the family have been told what a special experience a mother or child had with her smiling assistance. Mary felt a sense of duty to her family, her country, her church and those less fortunate. She volunteered where she felt most needed. Some of those community organizations include the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, PTA, Robert Mills House, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Suicide Prevention Hotline, St. Joseph?s Respite Care, and St. Joseph?s Bereavement Committee. Mary was preceded in death by her loving parents William Bertrand and Rosa Cecilia O?Neill Buckner and her devoted brothers William Bertrand Buckner, Jr. and Joseph Eugene Buckner and their dear wives. She was also preceded in death by her former husband of 33 years, Colonel Paul W. Simpson. Mary is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren: daughter Rosann Simpson Jean of McAllen, TX and her five children and their families, Jennifer Jean Fontenot (Lewis) of Georgetown TX, SFC John Paul Jean (Stacy) of Ft. Bliss TX, Gillian Jean Morgan (Kenny) of Kingsville TX, Jacob Archer Jean (Amber) of McAllen TX, and Joseph Buckner Jean (Morgan) of Shreveport LA; son Paul W. Simpson, Jr. ?Bill?, and his wife Cindy Buchanan Simpson and their daughters Katie O?Neill Simpson and Marianne Buchanan Simpson of Columbia SC; daughter Robin Simpson Hearn and her husband Michael Dean Hearn and his sons Grayson Fredrick Hearn and Tyler Alston Hearn of Charlotte NC and Robin?s step-daughter Brooke Killough Tripp (Justin) and their family of Atlanta GA. Mary is also survived by her dear and devoted nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mary was a devout Catholic and member of many Catholic churches over her lifetime. She was a member for over 30 years at St. Joseph?s Catholic Church in Columbia, SC. Mary?s church home in Charlotte was Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church and on occasion St. John Neumann Catholic Church. The family would like to thank these Catholic churches for their support in her faith. The family would also like to thank the Charlotte Hospice and Palliative Care and all the Aldersgate Retirement Community staff for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to Aldersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215 or to one of the above listed organizations as each provided comfort and care to Mary and her family.