Virginia Simpson: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Virginia Simpson.jpg|right|thumb|Virginia Simpson]]
[[Image:Virginia Simpson.jpg|right|thumb|Virginia Simpson]]
'''Virginia Ellicott Youmans Simpson''' (born c. [[1921]]; died [[August 30]], [[1977]] in [[Birmingham]]) was the wife of [[Joe Simpson]], and an active supporter of the arts in Birmingham.
'''Virginia Ellicott Youmans Simpson''' (born c. [[1921]]; died [[August 30]], [[1977]] in [[Birmingham]]) was the wife of real estate executive [[Joseph W. Simpson]], and an active supporter of the arts in Birmingham.


Virgnia was the daughter of nutritionist John Barlow Youmans who served in the office of the U.S. Surgeon General and was later dean of Vanderbilt University's medical school. She attended Wellesley College and Vanderbilt's school of nursing. She married U.S. Navy Reserve Lieutenant Joe Simpson at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville on [[March 25]], [[1944]].
Virgnia was the daughter of nutritionist John Barlow Youmans who served in the office of the U.S. Surgeon General and was later dean of Vanderbilt University's medical school. She attended Wellesley College and Vanderbilt's school of nursing. She married U.S. Navy Reserve Lieutenant Joe Simpson at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville on [[March 25]], [[1944]].
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Simpson was heavily involved with the [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra|Birmingham Symphony Orchestra]] and [[Birmingham Museum of Art]] and was one of the founders of the [[Birmingham Ballet]]. She invited Boston Ballet choreographer [[Alfonso Figueroa]] to lead a summer seminar, and later invited him to direct the company.
Simpson was heavily involved with the [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra|Birmingham Symphony Orchestra]] and [[Birmingham Museum of Art]] and was one of the founders of the [[Birmingham Ballet]]. She invited Boston Ballet choreographer [[Alfonso Figueroa]] to lead a summer seminar, and later invited him to direct the company.


The Simpsons resided in the former [[Theodore Swann residence]] on [[Redmont Road]], where they kept separate bedrooms. For an anniversary present, Joe Simpson restored the Rosemount plantation house in Greene County in [[1958]].
The Simpsons resided in the former [[Theodore Swann residence]] on [[Redmont Road]], where they kept separate bedrooms. For an anniversary present, Joe Simpson restored the Rosemount plantation house in Greene County in [[1958]]. Simpson chaired the steering committee which explored restoration of the [[Lyric Theatre]] in the 1960s.


On the morning of [[August 31]], [[1977]] Simpson was found [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1977|shot to death]] by a maid in her husband's bed. She had been shot three times by a .38 caliber handgun. Joe Simpson was out of town at the time.
On the morning of [[August 31]], [[1977]] Simpson was found [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1977|shot to death]] by a maid in her husband's bed. She had been shot three times by a .38 caliber handgun. Joe Simpson was out of town at the time.

Revision as of 08:46, 21 November 2020

Virginia Simpson

Virginia Ellicott Youmans Simpson (born c. 1921; died August 30, 1977 in Birmingham) was the wife of real estate executive Joseph W. Simpson, and an active supporter of the arts in Birmingham.

Virgnia was the daughter of nutritionist John Barlow Youmans who served in the office of the U.S. Surgeon General and was later dean of Vanderbilt University's medical school. She attended Wellesley College and Vanderbilt's school of nursing. She married U.S. Navy Reserve Lieutenant Joe Simpson at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville on March 25, 1944.

Simpson was heavily involved with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Birmingham Museum of Art and was one of the founders of the Birmingham Ballet. She invited Boston Ballet choreographer Alfonso Figueroa to lead a summer seminar, and later invited him to direct the company.

The Simpsons resided in the former Theodore Swann residence on Redmont Road, where they kept separate bedrooms. For an anniversary present, Joe Simpson restored the Rosemount plantation house in Greene County in 1958. Simpson chaired the steering committee which explored restoration of the Lyric Theatre in the 1960s.

On the morning of August 31, 1977 Simpson was found shot to death by a maid in her husband's bed. She had been shot three times by a .38 caliber handgun. Joe Simpson was out of town at the time.

Her son, James II, known as "Popsie", was initially charged with the murder. There was testimony to the effect that he had offered large sums for his mother's death, but those witnesses were discredited in preliminary hearings and the charges were dropped. The style of the murder caused some to conclude that it had been carried out by a professional killer.

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