She was born into a noted musical family. Her parents, Melvin and Evelyn, and five sisters and two brothers have performed together for many years as the Singing Simpson Family. The family, a gospel group, spent five weeks in South Africa a year ago singing at black and white churches.
A lyric soprano who favored spirituals and gospel music, Simpson studied at Temple University, the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts and the Julliard School of Music in New York.
In 1983, she debuted professionally at Carnegie Hall with the American Symphony Orchestra. Later that year she sang in London's Westminster Abbey. In Philadelphia she performed with Opera North (formerly Opera Ebony) and also with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She had toured a number of countries.
In addition to her parents, Simpson is survived by five sisters, Claudette Simpson, Patricia Newton, Gloria Ingram, Evelyn Curenton and Marietta Simpson; and two brothers, Melvin Jr. and Joseph.
Services were to be at 7 tonight at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, 4732 N. Broad St., where friends may call after 3 p.m. A musical tribute will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Burial will be in Ivy Hill Cemetery, Easton Road opposite Woolston Road.
SAMUEL NESBIT JR.
Samuel Nesbit Jr., a retired steam fitter, died Sunday. He was 66 and lived in Southwest Philadelphia.
Originally from South Philadelphia, Nesbit moved to Southwest Philadelphia in 1954. He worked out of Steamfitters Local 420 from 1940 until he retired. For the past six years he had been an elder at Hope Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his wife, the former Lillian Green; two daughters, Lillian Jackson and Joyce Lewis; three grandchildren; and three sisters.
Services will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the King Funeral Home, 2649-51 S. 64th St., where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Mount Moriah Cemetery, 62nd Street and Kingsessing Avenue. Friends may also call between 7 and 9 tonight at the funeral home.
