Dixie Carol Boggus Simpson

Mrs. Dixie Carol Boggus Simpson, age 87, of Commerce, GA (Former resident of Gainesville, GA and Carnesville, GA) passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Pendergrass Baptist Church on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at noon with Pastor Randall Hulsey officiating. A reception for family and close friends will be held following in the fellowship hall.

Dixie was born to Homer Cleveland Boggus and Margaret Ann Browning Boggus on May 1, 1936 in Savannah, GA. Dixie was named after Dixie Lee Crosby. Dixie means southerner, and she was the best example of a true southern lady.  After being born in Savannah, GA, Dixie lived in Winston Salem, NC as a young child before moving to Fitzgerald, GA where she finished her schooling.

As a child, she enjoyed reading, playing outside and simple things like watching the snow fall or the fire crackle in the fireplace. Once when she was climbing on some rocks in the mountains, she fell, but thankfully her mother was there to catch her.  She considered Fitzgerald her true home from the age of ten. She loved that she had an upstairs bedroom with a window seat where she could read and dream about adventures. Fitzgerald is also where she met Charley Davis Simpson, her future husband and father of her four children.  Dixie’s best friend, Sylvia, introduced her to Charley who was two years older. On Saturdays, Dixie worked for the Western Auto and was in charge of the toys for Christmas. She graduated from Fitzgerald High School in the top 10% of her class and won the Glee Club award. Dixie’s favorite book was the Bible and her favorite flowers were violets and roses.  When Dixie graduated high school, she and Charley had been dating for a couple of years.  Charley was away at Army basic training. He called her and proposed to her over the phone because he wanted to marry her before he went overseas. 

Charley and Dixie married on January 16, 1955 at her parent’s house in Fitzgerald, GA. They drove up to Cherokee, NC for a honeymoon trip. After Charley was stationed in Germany, Dixie boarded the QEII and sailed across to live with a host family in Germany. Dixie remained friends with the family’s daughter sending Christmas cards and letters to keep up. Charley and Dixie visited Germany and got to see Helga and her husband some years ago.  They enjoyed revisiting the past and the memories they shared there. 

In November of 1956, Dixie had her firstborn son, Charley Davis Simpson, Jr.  He was followed by Robert Anthony Simpson, Thomas Jacob Simpson and Rebecca Lee Simpson Wilson. Dave, Tony, Jake and Becky were everything to her. She was the hardest working and most loving mother any child could have dreamed of having. When Becky was ready to go to school, Dixie got a job at Chestnut Mountain Elementary. After working in the cafeteria for a year, she became the secretary in the fall of 1972 and later retired in 1984.  She began to do secretarial work for Charley as Simpson Brick Company began to flourish.

Her first grandchild, Will, was born in August 1984, followed by Caleb, Davis, Lydia, Matthew and Lily.  As wonderful as Dixie was as a mother, she loved her role as Granny even more. Dixie was blessed to have a few bonus grandchildren added to the family when Ashley, Pepper and Alleah came along. She read books, played games and loved to cook for her growing family. Sunday dinners were always a great reason to visit.  A few years ago, Kate and Maggie expanded Dixie’s lineage as her great grandchildren.

Dixie finally retired from Simpson Brick and devoted her time and attention to her family, home and garden. If some people have a green thumb, Dixie had a green hand. She could rescue any little twig and turn it into a productive prize in her yard. 

Dixie had the heart of a warrior, the patience of a saint and the faith of Job. She was the glue and strength of her family. All who knew Dixie loved her. She was a sincere friend to so many. She will be greatly remembered and missed.

Dixie was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Margaret Boggus; husband, Charley D. Simpson, Sr. ; brother and sister-in-law, Don & Judy Boggus; son, Tony Simpson; son-in-law Henry Wilson and step-grandson Ashley Wilson.

Dixie leaves behind Dave & Susan Simpson; Jake Simpson; Becky Wilson; Will & Laura Wehunt; Kate Wehunt; Maggie Wehunt; Caleb Wilson (Amber Shildmyer); Davis Simpson; Lydia Simpson (fiancé Randy Blair), Matthew Simpson; Lily & Henry Cross; Pepper Wilson & Todd Morgan; Allie & Levi Thomas; Morgan Thomas; Rachel Morgan; Alleah & John Crawford; Faylee Crawford; Jack Crawford; Hank Wilson (fiancé Dacia Rodriguez) and Levi Wilson. Dixie also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews from both the Boggus and Simpson families.

Special thanks to the staff at Brookside Senior Living in Commerce, GA and the caregivers from Agape Hospice of Northeast Georgia for the attentive and loving care of Dixie.  A sincere and heartfelt thank you to Ann Davis and Melissa Walls for being the true angels our family needed during this difficult time as well as a special angel who God placed as Dixie’s neighbor across the hall, Lois Johnson.

Arrangements were handled by Little-Ward Funeral Home, 115 State St., Commerce, GA 30529, 706-335-3175.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to www.michaeljfox.org for Parkinson’s research.  Cards or letters of sympathy may be sent to the family via PO Box 418, Gainesville, GA 30503.