Joan Simpson Oliver died peacefully at her home in Pearl on February 19, 2021, after a brief illness surrounded by family and friends. A graveside service will be held at 1:00pm, Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pearl. Friends and family are welcome. Masks are required. Visitation with the family will take place at the cemetery.
Joan was born February 11, 1934 in Thomastown, Mississippi in Leake County to Dave Marshall Ballard and Ethel Mae Lacey Ballard. She was one of eight children and was the last one to pass away following the recent COVID death of her oldest brother in December, 2020. .
She married Jimmy Simpson, and they raised three daughters while living in Kosciusko, Collins, Petal and Pearl, Mississippi. She cared for Jimmy until his death in 1989 after a long illness and nearly 20 years on dialysis. She later married Buster Oliver and moved back to Kosciusko where they lived for many years. After their health began to fail, they returned to Pearl. Buster died at the State Veteran’s Home in Kosciusko 2019. She adored her family and was a devout Christian and was active in Baptist churches in every place she lived. She set a fine Christian example for her children and grandchildren. She is currently a member of Eastside Baptist Church in Pearl and was an active member at Parkway Baptist Church in Kosciusko.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dave and Ethel Ballard; husbands, James William “Jimmy” Simpson, James Dendy “Buster” Oliver; brothers, Dave Ballard, Jr. and wife Helen, John Ballard, Norman Ballard, and Don Ballard; sisters, Dorothy Ratcliff, Lynn Kyles and infant Frances Ballard; and sister-in-law, Jean Buck, and husband Ken Buck..
She was known as Gran and is survived by daughters, Gail Hathorne (Mike), Pam Simpson, and Patrice Herrington (Mims Jr); grandchildren, Chad Hathorne (Heather), Hal Herrington (Kristin), Hannah Clark (Stephen); great-grandchildren Yancey Hathorne, Paxton Herrington, Chandler Clark, Shepherd Clark, and Baby Clark arriving in May; sisters-in-law, Carol Ballard, Deborah Duck Ballard, Diane Ballard, and Louise Brigance. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
She spent a year at Peachtree Village in Brandon prior to and during most of 2020. They provided a wonderful environment and kept her safe from COVID. She returned home for the last few months of her life and was cared for by staff of her great-niece, Jamie Ballard Wynn’s company, PRADA Home Care. We especially thank Dimitri Green and Rowena Crum. She was cared for during the last week of her life during the recent snow and ice storm by family friend, Robin Horton. We also want to thank the staff of Kindred Home Health and Kindred Hospice.
