Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jimmy Lee Simpson |
| Birth | January 29, 1920 — Wilmot, Ashley County, Arkansas, USA |
| Death | June 9, 1986 — San Francisco, California, USA |
| Age at Death | 66 |
| Parents | Mother: Pearlie Mae Wimberly (née Potter); Father: unnamed; Stepfather: Linzie Wimberly |
| Spouse | Eunice Durden (m. 1941; separated 1952; divorced 1968) |
| Children | Patricia (1942–1942), Mattie Shirley (1943–2023), Orenthal James “O.J.” (1947–2024), Carmelita (1948–2009), Melvin Leon “Truman” (date unknown) |
| Grandchildren | At least 15, including Arnelle (1968), Jason (1970), Aaren (1977–1979), Sydney (1985), Justin (1988) |
| Occupations | Custodian, cook, head chef (Federal Reserve Bank, San Francisco) |
| Years at Federal Reserve | ~35 years; retired 1985 |
| Military Service | U.S. Army, World War II |
| Known For | Participation in San Francisco’s queer community; drag persona “Mama Simpson” |
| Primary Residences | Arkansas; Shreveport, Louisiana; San Francisco, California |
| Cause of Death | Cancer; accounts suggest AIDS complications were involved |
| Religion/Community | Church member; active in local community life |
Origins and Early Years (1920–1945)
Born on January 29, 1920, in Wilmot, Arkansas, Jimmy Lee Simpson came of age in the Jim Crow South, where opportunity often hid behind locked doors. His mother, Pearlie Mae Wimberly, and his stepfather, Linzie Wimberly, anchored a family that would later disperse westward. Like many African Americans in the 1930s and 1940s, he became part of the wider current of migration, moving toward cities that promised work and a different kind of future. World War II became a hinge in his life: he served in the U.S. Army, gaining experiences that likely widened his world and helped set his path toward California.
Marriage, Children, and a Fractured Household (1941–1968)
Jimmy married Eunice Durden in 1941 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Their early years were marred by sorrow with the loss of an infant daughter, Patricia, in 1942. The family grew again—Mattie Shirley in 1943, then O.J. in 1947 and Carmelita in 1948—before settling into San Francisco’s postwar bustle. A fifth child, Melvin Leon “Truman,” arrived in the 1950s. But in 1952, when O.J. was five, the marriage fractured. The separation, finalized by a 1968 divorce, reshaped the family map: Eunice became the backbone of the household, while Jimmy forged a different life in the same city yet at a distance that felt like miles.
Service and Work: From Army Duty to the Federal Reserve Kitchen
After his Army years, Jimmy found a steadier rhythm in the institutional kitchens and custodial rooms of San Francisco. He spent roughly 35 years employed by the Federal Reserve Bank, eventually retiring in 1985 as head chef at the 101 Market Street location. The title suggests daily craftsmanship more than ceremony: menus planned at dawn, staff managed through the lunch rush, meticulous control of a budget that had to feed hundreds. It wasn’t a public triumph, but it was steady, dignified work that sustained him for decades.
Identity and Community: “Mama Simpson” in San Francisco’s Queer World
Starting in the 1950s, Jimmy embraced a life that was both private and daring for its time. Living as a gay man in mid-century America demanded discretion; being a drag performer required bravery. In San Francisco’s queer community he adopted the persona “Mama Simpson,” a moniker that evokes warmth and authority, like a stage curtain parting to reveal a life lived under colored lights. Accounts vary on how public this identity was beyond the community, but within those circles he was known, seen, and named.
Father and Son: O.J. Simpson, Distance, and Flickers of Reconciliation
The story of Jimmy the father can’t avoid the long shadow of O.J. Simpson. Estrangement after the 1952 separation cooled father-son ties for years. Reports suggest O.J. struggled with Jimmy’s sexuality, even as adulthood and family life pushed O.J. toward more complicated understandings. There were small reconciliations—private moments, occasional family appearances, even attendance at major milestones like the 1985 Hall of Fame induction—though public acknowledgment was muted. The bond never fully broke; it also never fully healed.
Later Years, Illness, and Passing (1985–1986)
Retirement in 1985 was swiftly followed by decline. Jimmy died at 66 on June 9, 1986, in San Francisco, officially of cancer. Some accounts point to AIDS complications, a detail that aligns with the epidemic’s devastating toll on the city’s queer community in those years. He left behind a broad family network—siblings, children, grandchildren—and a reputation that lived most vividly in the memories of those who knew both the man and “Mama Simpson.”
Family Snapshot: Names, Dates, and Notes
| Person | Relation | Life Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eunice Durden Simpson | Spouse | 1921–2001 | Married 1941; separated 1952; divorced 1968; present at his passing |
| Patricia Simpson | Daughter | 1942–1942 | Died in infancy |
| Mattie Shirley (Simpson) Baker | Daughter | 1943–2023 | Maintained extended family ties |
| Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson | Son | 1947–2024 | NFL star; actor; subject of major legal cases |
| Carmelita (Simpson) Durio/Jackson | Daughter | 1948–2009 | Largely private life |
| Melvin Leon “Truman” Simpson | Son | 1950s– | Lived outside the spotlight |
| Pearlie Mae Wimberly | Mother | — | Lived in Los Angeles later in life |
| Linzie Wimberly | Stepfather | — | Family anchor in California |
| Grandchildren (≥15) | Descendants | 1960s–1990s births | Includes Arnelle (1968), Jason (1970), Aaren (1977–1979), Sydney (1985), Justin (1988) |
Selected Timeline
| Year/Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1920-01-29 | Born in Wilmot, Arkansas |
| 1941 | Married Eunice Durden in Shreveport, Louisiana |
| 1942 | Birth and death of daughter Patricia |
| 1943 | Birth of daughter Mattie Shirley |
| 1940s | U.S. Army service during World War II |
| Late 1940s | Move to San Francisco; begins institutional work |
| 1947-07-09 | Birth of son O.J. Simpson in San Francisco |
| 1948-10-03 | Birth of daughter Carmelita |
| 1950s | Birth of son Melvin Leon “Truman” |
| 1952 | Separation from Eunice; begins living openly as gay |
| 1950s–1970s | Participation in Bay Area drag scene as “Mama Simpson” |
| 1968 | Divorce finalized in San Francisco |
| 1985 | Retires from Federal Reserve Bank as head chef |
| 1986-06-09 | Dies in San Francisco, age 66 |
Work and Finances: A Modest Arc
Jimmy’s career reflects a working-class throughline: custodial duties, cooking, responsibility without fanfare, a final role as head chef—then a pension and a simple retirement. No salary records or financial statements have surfaced, suggesting a modest life built on regular paychecks rather than savings headlines. His achievements lived in reliable service and in the communities he fed.
The Broader Frame: Migration, Race, Sexuality
His life sits at the crossroads of three American stories. The first is the Great Migration, which carried him from Arkansas and Louisiana to San Francisco. The second is the mid-century Black working class, finding steady footing in public-sector and institutional jobs. The third is the evolution of queer life—at once hidden and defiantly visible—in a city that became a national refuge. In all three, Jimmy walked paths worn by many, and yet his footsteps left a particular echo.
Recent Mentions (2024–2025): What Resurfaced and What Didn’t
After O.J. Simpson’s death on April 10, 2024, Jimmy’s name surfaced again, usually attached to discussions of his queer identity and the family’s complicated bonds. New facts were scarce; the conversation mostly revisited known elements—his years in San Francisco, “Mama Simpson,” the estrangement, the speculation around his cause of death. By 2025, references thinned to occasional social posts and commentary, more ripples than waves.
FAQ
Who was Jimmy Lee Simpson?
He was a World War II Army veteran, longtime Federal Reserve Bank employee in San Francisco, and the father of O.J. Simpson.
When and where was he born?
He was born on January 29, 1920, in Wilmot, Arkansas.
What was his profession?
He worked roughly 35 years at the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco, retiring as head chef in 1985.
Was he part of the queer community?
Yes, he lived as a gay man and performed in drag as “Mama Simpson” in the Bay Area.
How many children did he have?
He had five children, one of whom died in infancy; four survived into adulthood.
What was his relationship with O.J. Simpson like?
It was strained after the 1952 separation, though there were moments of later reconciliation.
What caused his death?
He died in 1986 of cancer; some accounts suggest AIDS complications were also involved.
Did he have notable public achievements?
His career was steady and working-class, with no widely recorded public accolades.
Where did he live most of his life?
He spent his later decades in San Francisco, after early years in Arkansas and Louisiana.
Why is he discussed in recent years?
Conversations about O.J. Simpson’s life have renewed interest in Jimmy’s story, especially his role in San Francisco’s queer history.
