Celebrating the life of
John Ely Simpson, Jr.
June 07, 1959 - August 20, 2014
SAVANNAH - John Ely Simpson Jr., died peacefully on August 20, 2014 of complications from diabetes. Born in Savannah on June 7, 1959, Ely was the son of Marjorie McKinnon Simpson and the late John Ely Simpson. Ely graduated from Savannah Country Day School in 1977. In 1981, he graduated with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Georgia, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Ely took great pride in his work as a landscape professional throughout his life, and he had many friends and interests. He was a passionate supporter of the University of Georgia football team and enjoyed attending games with his sons, playing tennis, reading, and family trips to Highlands, NC. He was a member of the Society of Colonial Wars and St. John’s Episcopal Church.
In addition to his mother, Ely is survived by his sons, John Ely Simpson III and his wife Nancy, and Marshall McKinnon Simpson, and their mother Elizabeth Powell McAlpin; his brother, Garey Lambert Simpson and his wife Cynthia; his sister, Ethelyn Nightingale Simpson; his niece Katherine Simpson Spencer and her husband Eric; his nephew Garey Lambert Simpson, Jr.; and his great-niece, Addison Leigh Spencer.
Private graveside services will be held at Bonaventure Cemetery. The family invites friends and family to join them for a reception at the Oglethorpe Club on Saturday, August 23rd from noon until 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 3525 Piedmont Road, NE, Building 6, Suite 300, Atlanta GA 30305 or to Hospice Savannah, Post Office Box 13190, Savannah GA 31416.
Please sign our on-line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com
To the Simpson family i send my condolences i am so sorr for your loss. Death is never easy to bear, but do you know that God holds out a resurrection for mankind and our dead love ones and we can see the again? well we can .In your Bible at John 5:28,29 this is one of the sciptures tha will give the family strengh and comfort, again i am sorry lor your loss.
- Mary Cooper, Savannah, Ga
I would like to express my deepest sympathy for the loss of your dear loved one. May you find comfort in the fact that sickness and death will soon be a thing of the past as promised at Revelation 21:4.
- Mrs. Khan, Snellville, GA
Sissie, I just heard about Ely today from Betty. We are terribly, terribly sorry about Eli. I think back on all of the summers in Bluffton that the boys enjoyed.THe boys really had fun being on the river. Eli helped me with my kitchen floor and i think of him when I cleaned it. Sissie, oh how i wish I could be there for you. Our love to all of your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Dede and Larry
- Dede and Larry Austin, Savannah, Ga
Dear Sissy. Joan & I were very saddened upon hearing of Ely's passing.Of course we have not seen him since childhood, but remember the good times he had with our son John.We always got a chuc.kle about the liquid revenge both boys exacted upon cathrine cann from your garage roof. when she would not give them their ball back when it landed in her yard.
- Joan & John Pinholster, savannah,, ga
We are so sorry for your loss. May God give you all the strength and the wonderful memories to comfort you during this sorrowful and difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family and loved ones.
- Dawn & Cary Ogletree, Roswell, GA
Dear Sissy, Gary, Ethelyn and Family, I am so, so sorry to hear of Ely's passing. Although it's been many years since I've seen him, I remember him as a delightful young man. I know his loss will be so keenly felt by so many. Please know that you have my deepest sympathy and you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
- Strachan Pindar, Boone, NC
Dear Sissy and Family, I want to let you know how sorry I am about your loss of Ely. I had a nice chat with him about a year ago and I am grateful that I got a chance to see him. He had such nice way about him and a wonderful smile. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. Laney Barroll Stark, Savannah, GA
- Laney Barroll Stark, Savannah, Ga.
Our sympathies and prayers are with the family. We first met Ely when he worked at Lesco. He then came to work for us and was a very valuable asset to our company. He will be sorely missed.
- ELP Landscape Services, Savannah, Ga
Absolutely crushed over the news of Ely's death. I have such sweet memories of him growing up. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Mary Bell Stolz Athens, Ga.
- Mary Bell Harrison Stolz, Athens,, Ga.
I'm so sorry to hear of Ely's passing. I remember him as such a happy soul. God bless you.
- Amy Gregory Weeks, Nashville, TN
Ely was a friend from the first time I met him in 1972. Our sincere condolences to his family for the loss of a truly nice man. We pray that God will give you a peace and comfort that only He can during your time of grieving.
- Dickey & Jennie Best, Savannah, GA
I so fondly remember Ely's wonderful smile that could light up a room and his light-hardheartedness. I am very proud of his children whom I haven't seen in a number of years, but hear great things about from their proud grandmother. Sending prayers, love and blessings to Ely and to all who love him dearly.
- Beth McKinnon, Macon, GA
We are so sorry for your loss and will keep Ely and your family in our prayers.
- Mary, Jim, Danny and Meg Todesca, Savannah, GA
It is with a heavy heart that we say good bye to Ely. He is the youngest of us brethren and should have been the last to go. This diabetes is hitting this family hard. Tommy, Richard and I all are having to deal with it and know how horrible it can be. Our prayers are with Aunt Sissie, Gary, Ethelyn and all the family Bill and Barbara Glendinning
- Bill Glendinning, Duluth, GA
First of all I'd like to tell John and Marshall that I'm sorry for the loss of their father at a young age. He was my dear friend whom i cared a great deal for. I will miss him and his goofy laugh and smile. He was a great friend as well as mentor to me and i am deeply saddened at his sudden passing. I will miss you old friend, Go Dawgs.
- Dale Holley, Savannah, Ga.
Very sorry to hear about Ely. He was always kind to me when I babysat John that summer 20 years ago. He would always come home and eat lunch with us while we watched Kindergarten Cop over and over again. My condolences.
- Margaret Kramer Clark, Savannah, GA
To the Simpson family i send my condolences i am so sorr for your loss. Death is never easy to bear, but do you know that God holds out a resurrection for mankind and our dead love ones and we can see the again? well we can .In your Bible at John 5:28,29 this is one of the sciptures tha will give the family strengh and comfort, again i am sorry lor your loss.
- Mary Cooper, Savannah, Ga
I would like to express my deepest sympathy for the loss of your dear loved one. May you find comfort in the fact that sickness and death will soon be a thing of the past as promised at Revelation 21:4.
- Mrs. Khan, Snellville, GA
Sissie, I just heard about Ely today from Betty. We are terribly, terribly sorry about Eli. I think back on all of the summers in Bluffton that the boys enjoyed.THe boys really had fun being on the river. Eli helped me with my kitchen floor and i think of him when I cleaned it. Sissie, oh how i wish I could be there for you. Our love to all of your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Dede and Larry
- Dede and Larry Austin, Savannah, Ga
Dear Sissy. Joan & I were very saddened upon hearing of Ely's passing.Of course we have not seen him since childhood, but remember the good times he had with our son John.We always got a chuc.kle about the liquid revenge both boys exacted upon cathrine cann from your garage roof. when she would not give them their ball back when it landed in her yard.
- Joan & John Pinholster, savannah,, ga
We are so sorry for your loss. May God give you all the strength and the wonderful memories to comfort you during this sorrowful and difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family and loved ones.
- Dawn & Cary Ogletree, Roswell, GA
Dear Sissy, Gary, Ethelyn and Family, I am so, so sorry to hear of Ely's passing. Although it's been many years since I've seen him, I remember him as a delightful young man. I know his loss will be so keenly felt by so many. Please know that you have my deepest sympathy and you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
- Strachan Pindar, Boone, NC
Dear Sissy and Family, I want to let you know how sorry I am about your loss of Ely. I had a nice chat with him about a year ago and I am grateful that I got a chance to see him. He had such nice way about him and a wonderful smile. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. Laney Barroll Stark, Savannah, GA
- Laney Barroll Stark, Savannah, Ga.
Our sympathies and prayers are with the family. We first met Ely when he worked at Lesco. He then came to work for us and was a very valuable asset to our company. He will be sorely missed.
- ELP Landscape Services, Savannah, Ga
Absolutely crushed over the news of Ely's death. I have such sweet memories of him growing up. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Mary Bell Stolz Athens, Ga.
- Mary Bell Harrison Stolz, Athens,, Ga.
I'm so sorry to hear of Ely's passing. I remember him as such a happy soul. God bless you.
- Amy Gregory Weeks, Nashville, TN
Ely was a friend from the first time I met him in 1972. Our sincere condolences to his family for the loss of a truly nice man. We pray that God will give you a peace and comfort that only He can during your time of grieving.
- Dickey & Jennie Best, Savannah, GA
I so fondly remember Ely's wonderful smile that could light up a room and his light-hardheartedness. I am very proud of his children whom I haven't seen in a number of years, but hear great things about from their proud grandmother. Sending prayers, love and blessings to Ely and to all who love him dearly.
- Beth McKinnon, Macon, GA
We are so sorry for your loss and will keep Ely and your family in our prayers.
- Mary, Jim, Danny and Meg Todesca, Savannah, GA
It is with a heavy heart that we say good bye to Ely. He is the youngest of us brethren and should have been the last to go. This diabetes is hitting this family hard. Tommy, Richard and I all are having to deal with it and know how horrible it can be. Our prayers are with Aunt Sissie, Gary, Ethelyn and all the family Bill and Barbara Glendinning
- Bill Glendinning, Duluth, GA
First of all I'd like to tell John and Marshall that I'm sorry for the loss of their father at a young age. He was my dear friend whom i cared a great deal for. I will miss him and his goofy laugh and smile. He was a great friend as well as mentor to me and i am deeply saddened at his sudden passing. I will miss you old friend, Go Dawgs.
- Dale Holley, Savannah, Ga.
Very sorry to hear about Ely. He was always kind to me when I babysat John that summer 20 years ago. He would always come home and eat lunch with us while we watched Kindergarten Cop over and over again. My condolences.
- Margaret Kramer Clark, Savannah, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
