Obituaries

Irene Marchelle Johnson Simpson, age 71, transitioned to her heavenly home on Saturday, January 10, 2025. The youngest of two, she was born on June 20,1954 in Clarksburg, WV to the late Brady Crawford and Violet Mayfield Johnson.

A lifelong resident of Clarksburg, she graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1974 and then raised her family here – four sons of whom she was immensely proud. Irene worked in glass manufacturing (Brockway) and as a nurse’s aide. She had a passion for service and was gifted in music and as a believer, she embraced that gift and throughout the years shared her voice and piano skills in many houses of worship in the community and was the choir director at Allen Chapel AME Church. She had a beautiful soprano voice and often sang solos as an offering in worship. Irene also gave music lessons for several years at the YWCA in Clarksburg.

She is survived by her devoted eldest son, DOD Civil Servant Carlos Simpson and wife Clare along with her granddaughters and grandson, Chantelle, Mya, and Kai and great granddaughters, Rosie and Ava all of Bury Saint Edmunds, England and her beloved youngest son, Asa Anderson, of Clarksburg.  In addition to her sons, Irene is survived by her granddaughter, Aijah Marie Holyfield of Clarksburg, and her niece, Jennifer Jones and husband Troy, of Bridgeport who provided years of care and support to Irene. She leaves a host of other relatives and her congregation at Clarksburg Baptist Church and the Fellowship Life Group whom Irene considered family as well.  These friends cared deeply for her and loved her honesty, compassion, and sense of humor.

In addition to her parents, Irene was preceded in death by two of her sons whom she never stopped yearning to see – Anthony “Bubba” Holyfield and Xavier Mychael Holyfield and her sister and beloved aunt to her sons, Emogene Johnson.

Irene’s life was a journey filled with many personal highs and lows, times of growth and decline, and joy and sorrow, but the loss of two sons was almost more than a mother’s heart could bear and in recent years as her health declined, she suffered under these tragedies, yet she suffered well – turning her eyes toward Jesus, finding hope in daily scripture reading, enduring every hardship with faith, and trusting God’s presence and purpose. She is now at peace in the arms of her Savior.

Family and friends may call at the Amos Carvelli Funeral Home, 201 Edison Street, Nutter Fort on Sunday from 2:00 – 6:00 pm.

Ms. Simpson will be taken to the Clarksburg Baptist Church, 501 W. Pike Street, Clarksburg on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 11:00 am with Pastor Phil Wayman officiating.

Interment will follow in the Shinnston Memorial Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at www.amoscarvelli.com.  A service of Amos Carvelli Funeral Home.