Tommy Lee Simpson

Tommy Lee Simpson, 62, a resident of Cleveland, passed on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in a Cleveland hospital.

Tommy was born and raised in Athens, where he attended McMinn County High School and graduated Class of 1978 and received his associate’s degree from Cleveland State Community College. He was employed for 36 years at Bowaters, where he worked as a shipper.

Tommy was a member of Unity Christian Ministries, where he served as an usher and worked with groundskeeping. He loved to work out at the gym and was a big Walmart shopper. He loved football, especially the Tennessee Vols, and basketball.

Tommy was a loving person with a good sense of humor and would do whatever he could to help others.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Mae McCown Simpson.

Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Gaynell Dunn Simpson of Cleveland; four children, Tee Lashawn Simpson, Tommy Devon Simpson, Tristan Lee (Chiquita) Simpson and Sasha Kiana Simpson; father, William "Billy" Simpson of Athens; two grandchildren, Delonte Simpson and Trisheema Simpson; one brother, William (Lisa) Simpson of Athens; six sisters, Tammy Simpson, Sherry (Ralph) Smith and Sandy Espey, all of Athens, Lesa (Michael) Adams of Chattanooga, Felicia Johnson of Sweetwater and Carlotta Ware of Cleveland; uncles and aunts, Jimmy "Jimbo" Simpson, andElla Mae Moore, both of Athens, Jackie and Polly Mayotte of Sweetwater, Melvin and Dean Oggs of Sweetwater, Chester McCowan of Niota, Turley Smith and Helen Rucker of Athens, Robert and Mattie McCowan of Athens and Judy McCowan of Sweetwater; mother-in-law, Bobbie Dunn of Charleston; sister-in-law, Gail Johnson of Charleston; brothers-in-law, Franklin (Sylvia) Dunn of Huntsville, Alabama, and Steve (Sandra) Dunn of Cleveland; many nieces and nephews that he loved very much; and many cousins and dear friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at Unity Christian Ministries, 3873 Old Tasso Road NE, Cleveland with the pastor, the Rev. Aubrey Ector, officiating.

The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the church from noon to 1 p.m.

Interment will follow the service at Moore Cemetery in Niota.

M.D. Dotson & Sons Funeral Home of Cleveland is in charge of arrangements.