Virginia Simpson: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Virginia Simpson.jpg|right|thumb|Virginia Simpson]] | [[Image:Virginia Simpson.jpg|right|thumb|Virginia Simpson]] | ||
'''Virginia | '''Virginia Ellicott Youmans Simpson''' (born c. [[1921]]; died [[August 30]], [[1977]] in [[Birmingham]]) was the wife of [[Joe Simpson]], and an active supporter of the arts in Birmingham. | ||
Virgnia was the daughter of nutritionist John Barlow Youmans who served in the office of the U.S. Surgeon General and was later dean of Vanderbilt University's medical school. She attended Wellesley College and Vanderbilt's school of nursing. She married U.S. Navy Reserve Lieutenant Joe Simpson at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville on [[March 25]], [[1944]]. | |||
Simpson was found [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1977|shot to death]] in her home, the former [[Theodore Swann residence]] on [[Redmont Road]], in [[1977]]. She suffered three .38 caliber gunshot wounds. Her son, [[James Simpson II|James II]], was initially charged with the murder, but the charges were | For an anniversary present, Joe Simpson restored the Rosemount plantation house in Greene County in [[1958]]. | ||
Simpson was heavily involved with the [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra|Birmingham Symphony Orchestra]] and [[Birmingham Museum of Art]] and was one of the founders of the [[Birmingham Ballet]]. She invited Boston Ballet choreographer [[Alfonso Figueroa]] to lead a summer seminar, and later invited him to direct the company. | |||
Simpson was found [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1977|shot to death]] in her home, the former [[Theodore Swann residence]] on [[Redmont Road]], in [[1977]]. She suffered three .38 caliber gunshot wounds. Her son, [[James Simpson II|James II]], was initially charged with the murder. There was testimony to the effect that he had offered large sums for his mother's death, but those witnesses were discredited in preliminary hearings and the charges were dropped. The style of the murder caused some to conclude that it was carried out by a professional killer. | |||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QggdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9p0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3326%2C6643835 Socialite found slain]" (August 31, 1977) ''The Tuscaloosa News'' | |||
* "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HgkdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7J4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2301%2C6897399 Slain woman's son released]" (March 29, 1978) ''The Tuscaloosa News'' | |||
* Haden, Courtney (May 4, 2012) "[http://weldbham.com/blog/2012/05/04/the-dances-of-life-and-death/ The dances of life and death]" {{Weld}} | * Haden, Courtney (May 4, 2012) "[http://weldbham.com/blog/2012/05/04/the-dances-of-life-and-death/ The dances of life and death]" {{Weld}} | ||
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[[Category:1921 births]] | [[Category:1921 births]] | ||
[[Category:1977 deaths]] | [[Category:1977 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Arts activists]] | |||
[[Category:Murder victims]] | [[Category:Murder victims]] | ||
Revision as of 14:06, 23 July 2015
Virginia Ellicott Youmans Simpson (born c. 1921; died August 30, 1977 in Birmingham) was the wife of Joe Simpson, and an active supporter of the arts in Birmingham.
Virgnia was the daughter of nutritionist John Barlow Youmans who served in the office of the U.S. Surgeon General and was later dean of Vanderbilt University's medical school. She attended Wellesley College and Vanderbilt's school of nursing. She married U.S. Navy Reserve Lieutenant Joe Simpson at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville on March 25, 1944.
For an anniversary present, Joe Simpson restored the Rosemount plantation house in Greene County in 1958.
Simpson was heavily involved with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Birmingham Museum of Art and was one of the founders of the Birmingham Ballet. She invited Boston Ballet choreographer Alfonso Figueroa to lead a summer seminar, and later invited him to direct the company.
Simpson was found shot to death in her home, the former Theodore Swann residence on Redmont Road, in 1977. She suffered three .38 caliber gunshot wounds. Her son, James II, was initially charged with the murder. There was testimony to the effect that he had offered large sums for his mother's death, but those witnesses were discredited in preliminary hearings and the charges were dropped. The style of the murder caused some to conclude that it was carried out by a professional killer.
References
- "Socialite found slain" (August 31, 1977) The Tuscaloosa News
- "Slain woman's son released" (March 29, 1978) The Tuscaloosa News
- Haden, Courtney (May 4, 2012) "The dances of life and death" Weld for Birmingham