Jack Lee Simpson

Reverend Jackie Lee Simpson was born July 6, 1943 to William Sidney Simpson and Healon Evans Simpson of Childersburg, Alabama. Jack, along with siblings (late) Bill Sidney Simpson and Carolyn Gayle Simpson (Birmingham, AL) were brought up with a love for their hometown neighbors and raised to have lots of school pride. As a talented athlete and fierce competitor, he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. His perseverance, both on and off the field, would lead to a lifetime of victories as athlete, son, brother, uncle, coach, and grandfather but beginning as a beloved father to Sonya Gayle Pinkstaff (Ray) and Jackie Lee Simpson, Jr. (Jane). During their youth, he would answer the most important call of his life, the Lord’s call to pastor. His ministry would lead him to church homes including Baywood Baptist (Baton Rouge, LA), Bridgedale Baptist (Metairie, LA), Jefferson Baptist (Baton Rouge, LA), Old Field Baptist (Sylacauga, AL), and the proud proprietorship of The Mustard Seed Christian Store (Sylacauga, AL). His call to ministry gave him many gifts, one leading him to the love of his life, Linda Kennedy Simpson and his two other children: son, Richard “Rick” Glenn Phillips (Christine) and daughter, Lori Phillips Bright (Gary). Never really “retiring” from ministry, Jack’s love for the Lord, family, and the great outdoors lead him to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he lovingly mentored his grandchildren: Lindsey Pinkstaff Brownlee (Heath), Bruce Chadwick Benton, Chelsey Reigh Pinkstaff, Kenneth Ray Nelson Pinkstaff, Jacquelyn Paige Simpson, John Robert Phillips, Connor Lynn Bright, Elizabeth Lee Phillips, Mia Sheleigh Simpson, Case Samuel Bright, Tyson Jack Simpson, and great grandchild, Heath Everett Brownlee. He developed his love for horses at an early age. It was in Knoxville where his passion for them grew as he honed his skills as an avid trail rider. He loved absorbing God’s beauty of the outdoors, especially at the family farm. In his words, “Pastoring was his life’s work”, but many young lives were impacted through his coaching of several teams, including the middle school football team at the Christian Academy of Knoxville, various AAU basketball teams and area softball teams. He impacted every life that met him, that knew him, or that had the blessing of having him as family. We will greatly miss his contagious laugh, his wisdom, his unconditional love and his relentless enthusiasm for the Lord. We will celebrate his life, his spirit, and that he is finally home. Visitation will be July 20, from 1 to 2:30 at Berry Highland Memorial. A chapel service will begin at 2:30 and burial will follow at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery.