Martha Jane Hunt Simpson

Martha Jane Hunt Simpson passed away peacefully at Henry County Medical Center surrounded by her family on Saturday, July 16, 2022. She was born to the late Jack Winfield and Ruth Dixon Hunt on February 22, 1932, in Brazil, Tennessee.

As the middle child of five, Martha Jane’s earliest days formed her to love family fiercely. She was preceded in death by her oldest brother, Lewis Dixon (Martha) Hunt and younger sister Kay Hunt Richardson. Older brother, Jack Winfield (Shirley) Hunt Jr. of Buchanan, TN, and youngest sister, Ann Hunt (Jimmy) Elmore of Hoover, AL both survive.

In her ninety years of life, Martha Jane never missed an opportunity to fill her days with abundance. She showed up to the world wholeheartedly, in style, and with a wit that never wavered. And while her contagious spirit made the moments of so many indefinitely richer, Martha Jane clung to simple values. She had a steady love for ladies’ night at the Mexican restaurant, the Dallas Cowboys, and a good laugh.

Nearest to Martha’s heart, however, was her late husband, with whom she couldn’t wait to be reunited. She and Walter L. Simpson married on March 6, 1955. Together they had three children with whom they traveled the world as a military family; the late Billy Jack Simpson; LuJan Simpson Meketi of Paris, TN; and Mark Hunt (Amanda) Simpson of Round Rock, Texas.

Martha Jane’s life’s work was caring for others. She graduated from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Memphis, TN in 1953 and spent the next six decades working in nearly every specialty of nursing. She eventually retired from Henry County Medical Center at 84 years old. She held dear her friends in nursing, as well as the fellowship of Paris First United Methodist Church and Quota International.

While she found great meaning in her work as an RN, Martha Jane most adored the chance to love her grandchildren and great-grandchild. She is survived by four grandchildren: Britney Nicole Simpson of Palmetto, FL; Meagan Meketi (Tommy) Seratt of Martin, TN; Matthew Houston (Jan) Meketi of Trenton, TN; and Amy Noelle Simpson of Austin, TX. Great-grandchild, Luke Thomas Seratt also survives. All will miss their “Tata” deeply.

Martha Jane is a story – a story of richness and resilience, and a story that those who have been loved by her will revel in forever. In celebration of her life, memorial visitation will be held at Ridgeway Funeral Home in Paris, TN on Thursday, July 21, 2022, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 a.m.   Rev. Joy Weathersbee will be officiate.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in honor of its impact on Martha’s family.