AMERICUS — Funeral services for Ms. Josie Mae Simpson of Americus, Ga., will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016, at Big Bethel Baptist Church. The Rev. George F. Monts Jr. will officiate and burial will follow in Staley Memorial Gardens. The remains will lie in repose at the church one hour prior to the services.
Ms. Josie Mae Simpson was born on Sept. 24, 1933, to the late Mrs. Johnnie Mae Simpson Cooke and the late Mr. William Floyd Sr. She began her working career in the early 1950s with the City Café on North Lee Street and later the café was relocated on Cotton Avenue.  After many years of perfecting the industry, her desire to become an entrepreneur was long lived. Josie became the owner of Simpson’s Café and remained in business for over 50 years.
She leaves to mourn her passing two loving and devoted sons, Derrick (Renee’) King and Greg (Ruthie) King; nieces and nephews raised as her children, her loving and devoted caregiver, Josephine Simpson, Annie “Sue” (Thomas) Douglas, Mary Frances Hudson, Freda (David) Turner, Curtis Simpson, Alex B. Gant, James Simpson Jr.; three grandchildren, Lauryn, Kaelyn, and Kennedy King; one brother, Oscar (Emma) Cooke Sr.; four sisters,  Lula May, Carrie (Charles) Randall, Shirlene (Frankie) Lane, Barbara (Glenn Sr.) Otis; six half siblings, Juanita Sims, Alice (Gene) Lembrick, William (Gloria) Floyd Jr., Eddie (Shirley) West, John Floyd and Verna (Bobby) Gibson; three sisters-in-law, Ollie M. Simpson, Wilma Cooke and Jean Cooke; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Barnum Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of arrangements.