James William "Tat" Simpson

Mr. James William "Tat" Simpson, age 80 passed away at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, MS on Friday, December 10, 2021.  Visitation will be held 5pm-8pm, Sunday, December 12, 2021 at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Morton and 10am-11am, Monday, December 13, 2021 at Branch Baptist Church.  Funeral service will be held at 11am Monday at Branch Baptist Church with burial at Morton Memorial Gardens.  Bro. Geary Walton, Bro. Michael Giles and Bro. Jerry Holmes will officiate the services.  Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Morton.

Tat was born in Morton, MS on September 18, 1941.  One of six children of Vilas Lamar “Sonny” and Maybell Simpson.  Tat was raised on a farm with his family, in the community of Clarksburg where he attended Line Creek Baptist Church.  In 1960, Tat graduated from Morton High School where he enjoyed a standout career with the football team.  After high school, Tat attended the University of Southern Miss before settling back in the Morton Community.  Tat was known for his work ethic and enjoyed many types of  occupations including raising cattle, hauling pulpwood and mobile home installation. It later led him to travels to foreign lands such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South America and Nigeria.  In later life he owned a convenience store in Holmes County, MS, for nearly 20 years, where he made lifelong friends.  Tat settled back in Morton when he and wife, Dorothy bought Fisherman’s Corner in 1998.  He operated the store for over 20 years where he enjoyed talking to and helping customers in the bait shop.  Tat’s zest for hard work was only matched by his passion for rabbit hunting and fishing.  Tat enjoyed hunting with his friends in the Carthage community and fishing at his camp at Chotard Lake.  Tat was a member of Branch Baptist Church where he and Dorothy enjoyed their many friends and fellowship.  He loved working on his John Deere Tractors and was a Charter member of the Central MS Antique Tractor Association.  He loved his family very much and will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew him.

Tat is preceded by his parents, Vilas Lamar Simpson and Maybell Everett Simpson; niece, Sherry Sims and nephew, Joey Tynes.

Tat is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Dorothy Shaw Simpson of Morton; children, Leah Faith Allen of Lexington and William Jay Simpson (Heather Holley) of Brandon; siblings, Edgar Lamar Simpson (Dagmar) of Coal Bluff, Linda Tynes (Joe) of Brandon, Mallie Raye Parker (Percy) of Morton, Melvin Simpson (Cindy) of Florence and Evelyn Fair (Joe) of Blairville, GA; 5 grandsons, James Haden Allen (Tristan), Luke Jamison Allen, Sawyer Kelley Simpson, William Reed Simpson and Sonny Lewis Simpson; 2 great grandsons, Jax Jameson Allen and Beau Maddox Allen; 3 stepchildren, Michael Rushing, Paul Rushing and Dory Herrington; 5 step grandchildren; 8 step great grandchildren; and a host of friends.

Pallbearers will be Clay Simpson, Tony Parker, Kenny Fair, Luke Allen, Haden Allen and Paul Rushing.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Central MS Antique Tractor Association.

In Lieu of flower, memorials may be made to the Blair E. Batson Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in honor of Reed & Sawyer Simpson.