Homegoing Celebration for Mr. Lorenzia Simpson

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Obituary: A Life Well Lived

"Fear none of those things which thou shall suffer: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Revelations 2:10

Mr. Lorenzia Simpson, after 79 years of God's Earthly Grace, he said farewell to this life on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at his residence.  He was born August 22, 1941, the youngest child of Carrie Ethel and Preston Simpson of Fairfield, North Carolina.  Throughout his life, he was affectionally known as "Baby" to some and Renzo" to others.

As a member of a very devout Christian family, at an early age, Lorenzia accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior and was baptized at Star Zion Church of Christ-Disciples of Christ in Fairfield, North Carolina.  Throughout his adult life, he maintained his connection to God and was ordained as a deacon in Rochester, New York, at the Christian Friendship Baptist Church.  He continued to be a Christian servant and choir member at the Calvary Baptist Church in Dover, Delaware, and the Mt. Mariah Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.  If you know anything about Lorenzia, you know he loved to help others and to sing.  During his declining health, Lorenzia kept right on singing.  He knew that, someday, he would be singing around God's throne.

In 1959, Lorenzia graduated from Hyde County Training School located in Swan Quarter, North Carolina.  (The name of this school was later changed to O.A. Peay High School in 1963.)  While at HCTS, he busied himself with his studies, sports, agricultural events, and driving the school bus.  If you asked him, he would tell you some of his funny stories about his "bus-driving days" and have you falling off your seat laughing.

Shortly after high school, Lorenzia enlisted with the United States Air Force and spent many years fulfilling his military duty.  He served in Korea and then was re-located to Arizona, California, and Delaware.  After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Lorenzia signed up with the Air Force Reserves.  From Dover, Delaware, he and his family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and then to Rochester, New York, where they resided for more than twenty years.  While in Rochester, he continued his Reserves Duty and also became an employee of the United States Postal Service.  He and his wife, Loretta, later departed Rochester for Atlanta and then moved back to Charlotte where they could be closer to their children and grandchildren.  It would be safe to say that Lorenzia was a well-traveled man who saw a wide expanse of God's green earth and got to meet numerous people of various races, customs, and cultures.

On August 19, 1964, Lorenzia was united in holy matrimony with Loretta Burrus, the daughter of Nettie and Richard Lee Burrus, Sr. of Fairfield, North Carolina.  It was a joyous occasion; and from this 57-Year Union, four children were born.

Lorenzia was a kind-hearted, friendly, and generous man.  As the saying goes, "He met no strangers."  He was very outgoing and loved to travel, joke, sing, play cards, fish, cook and eat.  Also, I think he knew almost everybody in Dover, Rochester, Atlanta, and Charlotte!  He was graced by God with a full and bountiful life, and for that, we are thankful.

Lorenzia was preceded in death by his mother and father, Carrie Ethel and Preston Simpson; his brother, Chester Simpson; his maternal and paternal grandparents; and several special aunts and uncles.

He leaves to cherish his loving memory: His dearest wife, Loretta; four children: Kristopher Simpson of Bowie Maryland; Cheryl Simpson Pillow of Charlotte, North Carolina; Craig Simpson of Seattle, Washington; Chandra Simpson of Los Angeles, California; one "adopted" daughter:  Sylvia Miller of Rochester, New York; sixteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren; one sister: Mary Agnes Greene of Dover, Delaware; one Aunt, Hazel Hill of Newark, New Jersey; six in-laws; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and acquaintances.

Lorenzia: "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess.5:23-NIV)