Mrs. Pansie Beryl Simpson

Pansie Beryl Simpson (formerly McGregor), age 92, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at Northside Gwinnett Hospital in Lawrenceville, GA. Pansie (Mom) was born in Smithfield, Westmoreland, Jamaica WI to parents, Alma Viola Cunningham, and Oswald Nigel McGregor on October 16th, 1930. She was raised by her mother, grandparents, and aunts. Those days close family members gladly played a role in parenting you, today we refer to it as “being raised by the village.” From birth, Pansie loved to sing; she attended St George’s Anglican Church, Savanna La Mar, Jamaica, where she sang as the lead soloist on the choir. She had the voice of an angel, beautiful and melodious; I recalled my uncles reflecting while listening to her sing at church, proudly saying (in the Jamaican dialect), “A my sister dat a sing.” Like the church members they enjoyed her sweet, soprano voice. Her formal education was in Jamaica, where she attended Savanna-la-mar Primary school. She received a half-scholarship to Mannings High School but did not attend due to financial constraints. However, a determined Pansie did not let that stop her from achieving; she worked as a teacher’s assistant where her teaching skills, and her warm and endearing approach with children were recognized. She was encouraged to apply to Moneague Teacher’s College where she completed her studies becoming a teacher in Jamaica. Later she was employed as a lead teacher at All Saints Infant School in Kingston where she worked for 30 years prior to her migration to the United States. It was during her work life that she met and married Carlton Simpson, her love for 47 years until his death in 2012. From this union she bore three daughters, Dr. Marguerite Simpson-Lackard, Carol Simpson-Woodley and Angela Simpson. In 1980, Pansie, Carlton and family migrated to the US, a sacrifice made to provide a better life for their family. They settled in the Bronx, NY for 8 years and later moved to Queens, NY. During this time, she entered the work force as a certified Health Care Nurse. My parents loved teaching by way of exposing us to various experiences. One such notable experience was on a trip to Canada to see my uncle, aunt, and family. On a day trip to the Canadian National Exhibition Fair (CNE) mom, my sisters, and our grandmother ventured on a ride that looked like a nice simple train ride on an easy-going train-track moving in a circular pattern. So, we took our seats and buckled in for the ride. But observant Mom noticed the slope of the train track moving upwards and realized this was no ordinary simple train ride, it was a Roller Coaster ride with hills and valleys. Next, we heard the fear in our grandmother’s voice when she yelled “Hold on P” and mom turning to her children saying, “Hold on Maggie and Carol, hold on.” Then the roller coaster getting to the top only to plunge down, we felt our stomachs dropping as the roller coaster shook and rattled our bodies around. Mom still looking back saying, hold on children, hold on. Turns out this was NOT a “nice easy ride” but a learning experience NEVER to be forgotten. Pansie loved children and was overjoyed when her own grandchildren came along. She made every effort to be an active part of their lives no matter how far they lived! At some point, she lived in both Virginia and later Massachusetts with her two older daughters where she helped raise and educate hergrandchildren, employing Lots of patience and Love!! She made sure we knew we could count on her as a mother and grandmother. Pansie’s final years were spent residing in Georgia with her youngest daughter, Angela. Their relationship became closer, developing from Mother/daughter to daughter as nurturer and caregiver. To quote our dad who recognized this change in life and said, “Once a Man Twice a child.” Mom, while fighting a neurological disease, knew she was loved and well cared for to the very end. So, today we gather to celebrate the life of this woman of God, educator and role-model, Pansie B. Simpson. She had a character most people aspire to, she was a wonderful wife, a loving mother, an attentive grandmother, a dedicated sister, aunt, and friend. Pansie has earned her wings, and along the way taught us to hold on. Hold on to the memories she has given us, hold on to the love that she has shared with us, hold on to the values she has instilled in all of us. Pansie is preceded in death by her parents, Alma Cunningham, Oswald McGregor and sisters Lorna Mair, Viola Mock and husband, Carlton Simpson. She is survived by her children Dr. Marguerite Simpson-Lackard (Courtney), Carol Simpson-Woodley (Melvin) and Angela Simpson, five grandchildren – Ashley, David, Mikayla, Katelyn and Christopher, brothers, Kelvin, Delroy, Leroy and Paul McGregor, Sydney Young, a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends. Mom, we love you and will miss you; May your soul rest in Eternal Peace until we meet again!

Tributes

Mrs. Pansie Beryl Simpson

October 16, 1930 - August 22, 2023