Barry G. Simpson

“Isn’t he cute,” the new mother said, her voice brimming with excitement.

The brother leaned over, peeked at the newest addition to the family and with a twinkle in his eye, said, “Nah!”

The pair laughed because, of course, the brother was teasing.

That baby boy was Barry Glenn Simpson. Barry died peacefully in the early morning hours of March 26, 2024, of complications from heart disease and a stroke. He was 55.

Barry was born September 15, 1968, in Los Angeles, California to his mother Bennie Rose Johnson and his father Glenn Byron Simpson. For Bennie, her one and only child was the light in her eyes. She doted on him and spoiled him in the best possible ways. Barry had all the best toys from his Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots to skateboards to Lego sets to Atari. He even had his own arcade-standard pinball machine. More importantly, he was showered with tons of love. Bennie left him much too soon, dying of cancer in 1980. After losing his mother, Barry came to live with that teasing uncle, Harvey, who affectionately called him, “Knuckle,” and his Aunt Virginia. Already joined at the hip since babies, Harvey and Virginia’s daughter, Melanie. and Barry became more like siblings than cousins. Melanie’s brothers, Ivan and Fred, became his big brothers.

He also stayed connected with his mother over the years by spending lots of quality time with Bennie’s closest sister friends – his aunts Diane Flemming and Ruel White – and their sons Michael and Ronald.

Growing up, Barry loved to be out of the house and active, whether it was riding his bike or playing sports. As a teen, you could often find him out in the street playing football with the neighborhood kids. He loved children and animals. At home, he often would be blasting rock music – Kiss, Led Zeppelin, ACDC – from his room. Barry had an aptitude for music. He once jumped up after hearing the opening theme of the soap opera, “Young and the Restless,” went over to the piano and taught himself to play it by ear. He played the guitar, but you never wanted to hear him sing.

A smart, and well-rounded student, Barry graduated from Millikan High School in 1986, where he also played football. He attended UCLA for two years, studying civil engineering. He had a variety of jobs over the years – from towing cars to working in a casino.

Over the course of his too-brief life, Barry faced struggles and personal battles. He had a tough time finding a lasting peace. During those struggles, Barry confessed his faith in the LORD Jesus Christ as his personal savior while attending the Los Angeles Mission. When he attended a church, he would go with his Aunt Linda to her adult Sunday school class, called Adult #1 at the Central Baptist church in Inglewood, CA. Barry became an honorary member of the class and the church. He was given a membership badge with his name on it. Even the pastor of the church considered Barry an honorary member of the church. He and the Central family prayed for Barry during his health challenges and hospital stays.

Even in challenging times, Barry found ways to bring joy to those he loved. He was a person who had an easy laugh for his friends, a hearty hug and a kiss on the cheek for his family and a listening ear for anyone who needed one. Like his mother, aunts and uncles, he grew up with a deep and abiding love for his family and pride in his Mitchell, Mott, House and Johnson roots. He regularly attended the Mitchell, Mott and House family “homecoming” reunions in Madisonville, Texas. When he didn’t come, his cousin Melanie would often be greeted with, “Where’s Barry?”

He was a loving soul, and he knew how much he was loved. That love helped to sustain him. May he now rest easy in perfect peace.

Barry was preceded in death by his mother, Bennie Rose Almaraz, his uncles Harvey and Raymond Johnson, and his aunts Earnestine Munson and Grace Appling.

He is survived by his aunts Mable Thompson, Virginia Williams, Linda Johnson and Cheryl Caziere, cousin/sister Melanie Johnson, first cousins Raymond “Pine” Johnson (Carmen), Don “Mickey” Garrison (Shirley), David and Lawrence Munson, Stephen Douglas (Sandra), Ivan and Fred Taylor (Sharon), Carol Appling, Beverly Hall (Jim), Cameron Caziere, Derek Caziere, Ugene “Geno” Dozier (Lisa), and a host of cousins and friends.

A funeral service for Barry will be held Friday, April 12, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Lighthouse Memorials & Receptions, 1016 W. 164th St., Gardena, CA 90247. A reception will occur Friday, April 12, 2024, 1016 W. 164th St., Gardena, California 90247. A burial will occur Friday, April 12, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Inglewood Park Cemetery, 720 E. Florence Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301.