Mary Florence (Jones) Simpson

Mary Florence Jones Simpson was welcomed into the Lord’s presence on February 10, 2026 after a period of declining health. She was born to Bernard and Louise Jones on October 9, 1950 at Annie Penn Memorial Hospital in Reidsville, NC. She was known for her radiant smile, kind and gentle spirit, sharp intelligence, attention to detail, and devotion to her family. Her singing voice was beautiful - a clear soprano for most of her adulthood, then later an alto and even a tenor as she grew older.She was also a talented painter; several of her pieces are displayed in her daughter’s home. The English major in her rarely allowed her to encounter a paragraph that did not need improvement in spelling or grammar, so she is likely proofreading from above as we speak. It brings great comfort to her family that she is finally reunited with her late daughter, Lindsay Apple, and her beloved “Pop,” Bernard Jones. Prior to Pop’s death in 2016, his devoted eldest daughter could often be spotted around town getting him out of the house for lunch with friends at Pete’s Burgers or Carmela’s. Mary was very proud of being a charter member of Woodmont United Methodist Church in 1952 as a young child, along with her parents. She served Woodmont in numerous capacities for the next 70+ years, including on Administrative board, teaching Sunday School, and lending her significant musical talent to the Chancel and handbell choirs. She enjoyed serving on the very last Reidsville City School Board in 1992-93 prior to consolidation to become the larger Rockingham County School System. She believed all schools in our county deserved an equal allotment of resources, regardless of location or the socioeconomic status of students and families . She was proud to serve on the first Rockingham County Consolidated Schools Board from 1994-96, including as Chair in 1996.  Mary was a member of the Reidsville Junior Service League from 1982-92, serving as President during her final year before becoming a sustainer. She was a charter board member for Reidsville Community Bank in 2007 and a board member for First Carolina State Bank from 2009-2012. At Reidsville High School, Mary Florence was a 1968 graduate, having been an academic marshal, flute player, and member of the color guard (flag team). She attended Greensboro College from 1968-1970 before getting married and transferring to UNC-Chapel Hill. Mary graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UNC in 1972 with a B.A. in English Education. Her daughters grew up being allowed to stay up late and pop popcorn any time the Tarheels were playing basketball on TV, so Saturday’s last-minute triumph over Duke pleased her greatly. During the 1980’s, Mary pursued graduate coursework in Library Science at UNC-Greensboro, but life became too busy to continue. As a teen, Mary Florence studied hard and worked hard, pulling tobacco and waiting tables. She maintained this work ethic in all areas of her life for the next 40+ years. She was employed at the Rockingham County Employment Security Commission, at Rockingham Community College as an Adult English Education instructor, as a 9th grade English teacher at Reidsville Junior High School, and ultimately retired in 2017 after working in human resources at Carolina Apothecary for 31 years. In retirement she could often be found volunteering in the church office, or serving with a group of ladies called the “Annie Penn Angels” in the local hospital gift shop or outpatient clinic. Mary was predeceased by her 29-year-old younger daughter, Lindsay Katharine Apple, in 2010 and by her parents, Bernard and Louise Jones She is survived by her husband, William F. Simpson, Sr. (“Bill”), her daughter, Mara Apple O’Neil (William), and grandchildren, Avery, Ella and Thomas O’Neil. She is also survived by her siblings, Margaret Jones Apple (Mike), Dena Jones West (Lee), and Jon Jones (Judy Shelton Jones), all of Reidsville, six nieces and nephews, five great-nieces and great-nephews, and her first husband and father of her children, Willis W. “Bill” Apple (Susan Rogers Apple) of Kernersville. Mary delighted in spending time with her stepsons and their families who also survive her: William F. Simpson, Jr. (“Bill Jr.”) and wife Holly Baskin Simpson of Hershey, PA, Jeffrey Simpson and wife Terry Ray Simpson of Raleigh, NC, and all 4 of their children. The family would like to especially thank Leslie Chilton and her team for their devoted, family-oriented care during the last year of Mary’s life Visitation with the family will be held on Friday, Feb. 13 in the sanctuary of Woodmont United Methodist Church in Reidsville, NC at 1:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m.  Memorial gifts may be made to Woodmont UMC’s “Feeding God’s Flock” program, which provides weekly meals to shut-ins and hungry families, at 1926 Richardson Dr., Reidsville, NC 27320, or to the North Carolina Chapter of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in memory of Lindsay Apple, 199 Water Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10038. Citty Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements

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