Becky Loyd Simpson, 64, of Pine Bluff passed away peacefully on April 12, 2023, surrounded by her family. Becky loved life. She had a captivating personality and a deep love for her family and friends, who will miss her dearly.
She was born on July 13, 1958, in Pine Bluff, to William B. and Dorothy Grissom Loyd. She was reared and received her early education in Pine Bluff, graduating from Pine Bluff High School in 1976. Becky went on to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where she proudly joined the Tri Delta Sorority. She completed the final year of her degree at UAPB, graduating with a bachelor’s of Banking and Finance.
After a brief time spent working with National Bank of Commerce and First South Savings and Loan, Becky became the sales manager for Express Employment Professionals, a local franchised staffing agency. She went on to purchase the business in 1988, after only six months of working there. Since that time, Becky grew her business to become one of the highest performing Express offices, world-wide; a feat she was extremely proud to have accomplished in the rural south. While with Express, she was honored with numerous awards, including the Board of Director’s award and the company’s most prestigious honor, The Gordon Blair Heritage award. The Gordon Blair is a discretionary award presented by the founders of Express to honor those who “possess extraordinary enthusiasm, positive attitude, and integrity and who have had a profound influence on the overall success and future growth of Express Employment Professionals.” Receiving this award was the highlight of her career.
Becky had a servant’s heart and used her professional success to pursue one of her greatest passions, giving back to her community which she so deeply loved. Each year, Express adopts 60 local children from the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree to make sure they all have gifts to open on Christmas Day. She currently served as the Vice President-Elect of the Jefferson County Alliance Board and was an active member of the JRMC Foundation Auxiliary Board. Past community involvement includes Pine Bluff Downtown Rotary Club, Executive Committee of the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff Country Club Board, Jefferson County Single Parent Scholarship Board, JRMC Physicians Auxiliary Board, St. Joseph Catholic School, Neighbor to Neighbor, CASA Women’s shelter, Jr. Sesame Club, and Junior League of Pine Bluff. She was recently honored by the Jefferson County Chamber and Alliance as Women Business Owner of the year at their International Women’s Day event.
Another of Becky’s greatest passions was spending time with her family and friends. She and Junie were inseparable. They loved entertaining and would often host countless friends and family to come enjoy their fantastic cooking and unbelievable wine collection. They also loved to play golf, travel the world, and hunt with family at the farm. Becky had a special bond with so many but none like she shared with her grandchildren. Getting to watch them grow up enjoying the lake and farm was extremely special to her and she felt blessed to spend time with them regularly.
Along with her parents, Becky was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Lloyd and Ophelia Davis Grissom and her paternal grandparents, James and Varnie Russell Loyd.
Survivors include her loving husband, Dr. P.B. “Junie” Simpson, Jr. of Pine Bluff; children, Lauren Smith Lawson (husband, John) of Pine Bluff, Alex Smith (wife, Rachel) of Little Rock, Jennifer Simpson Weems (husband, Chas) of Jackson, Tennessee, Reed Simpson (wife, Tess) of Denver, Colorado; brother, Bill Loyd (wife, Joyce) of Pleasant View, Tennessee; grandchildren, Hallie Marie Lawson, Ella Taylor Lawson, Annie Hart Smith, Burch Weems, Cooper Simpson and Asher Simpson; two nephews, Jeff Loyd of Clarksville, Tennessee and Steve Loyd of Franklin, Tennessee; and countless cousins, friends and coworkers.
A visitation will be held Sunday evening from 3-5 p.m. at Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 17, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Matt Mosler officiating. Interment will follow in Graceland Cemetery by Robinson’s.
The family is inviting all guests to attend a reception to celebrate Becky’s life immediately following the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Becky Simpson Memorial Fund, c/o JRMC Foundation, 1600 West 40th Avenue, Pine Bluff, AR 71603 or Becky Simpson Fund, c/o Baptist Hospital, 9601 Baptist Health Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205.
