Janice Oakley Simpson

August 4, 1940 - May 16, 2021

Janice Lorice Oakley Simpson, of Stokesdale, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on May 16, 2021. Janice was born August 4, 1940, in Roxboro, North Carolina, the daughter of the late Andrew C. Oakley and Lorenze Hall Oakley. On October 28, 1961, she married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Simpson, and they were married for 59 years. Janice was a graduate of Bethel Hill High School in 1958. She then received her nursing degree from City Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Winston-Salem in 1961. Janice was a nurse for 41 years. She started her career at City Memorial/Forsyth Memorial Hospital. She then worked for William Reed Wood, MD for 17 years before transitioning to Humana Hospital and Greensboro Dialysis Center. She worked for W. Siegfried Smith, MD for 14 years up until her retirement in 2003. Janice was always dedicated to serving and caring for others. Following her retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren, antiquing, planting and tending to her flowers, needlework, reading, puzzles, cooking and baking, and enjoying visits with friends. She was a kind, compassionate, and loving Christian, friend, mother, and Nana. Janice was an active member of Stokesdale United Methodist Church where she served in multiple ways with the United Methodist Women, Staff-Parish committee, was a member of the handbell choir, and a starting member of the Goshen Book Club. Janice was loved by her whole church and always brought the joy of Jesus into others' hearts. Outside of church, Janice was very involved in her community and was a member of Stokesdale Elementary PTA serving as the Vice President for one year and a former member of the Northwest Band Booster Club. She was also a part of the Rouge Chapeau Chapter of the Red Hat Society, volunteered to work for the election polls, volunteered at the American Red Cross, a member of the City Memorial Hospital Alumni Association (CMH-FMH Alumni), and a member of the Nurses Association of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (NAACOG). In addition to her parents, Janice is preceded in death by her sister, Loretta Sarver, and her brother Merritt Oakley. Janice is survived by her husband, Robert “Bob” Simpson; son, Kenneth Simpson and wife Lynn of Stokesdale; daughter, Robin Howerton and husband Steve “Herb” Howerton of Stokesdale; brother, Marty Woody and wife Mary Elizabeth of Kernersville; and her 3 grandchildren, Danielle Simpson, Bobby Simpson, and August Howerton. The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 20 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at Forbis and Dick in Stokesdale, 8320 US Highway 158, Stokesdale, NC 27357. The service will be held on Friday, May 21 at 2:00 pm at Stokesdale United Methodist Church, 8305 Loyola Dr, Stokesdale, NC 27357, with burial immediately following in the cemetery. Memorial offerings can be made to Stokesdale United Methodist Church, PO Box 38, Stokesdale, NC 27357.