Linda Simpson
Linda Simpson, 79, of Springfield, and formerly of Anna, died Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Regency Care of Springfield.
She was born on April 13, 1945, in Makanda, the daughter of Albert R. “Abe” and Cecile A. Perry Craig.
She is survived by her children, Craig Simpson, Christy Bivens (Jack Bivens) and daughter-in-love Carline Simpson; grandchildren Jacob Bivens (Kirsten Bivens), Jeremy Bivens (Mariah Irwin) and Nathan Simpson (Chandra Simpson); great-grandchildren Lennox Bivens, Beckett and Parker Joy Simpson; siblings Brenda Vitaska and Steven Craig; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.
She was an active member of Anna Heights Baptist Church until she moved to Springfield in November 2023 due to an injury. She lived her life for Jesus Christ. As a servant to her savior, she helped so many people in need and did this in many ways.
In her younger years, she would take elderly and widowed women of her church to the store and to run errands, gave food to the needy and was available to pray any time of day for those in need. Family members and friends said she had a direct line to heaven.
She was known to many as “Granny.” She loved being a Granny to her three grandsons. It was only with becoming a great-grandma that she traded “Granny” in for “GiGi.”
She worked as a secretary for Water and Soil Conservation in Sparta, where she lived and raised her children. After moving back to Southern Illinois to help her aging parents, she was employed by Addus Healthcare.
She loved the color blue and if you feel compelled, we would love to see those attending the visitation or celebration of life wear blue to honor the life of our “GiGi.”
A celebration of her life will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, July 19, at Anna Heights Baptist Church in Anna. Family and friends may gather from 3 p.m. until the service time at 4 p.m. at the church.
Memorials can be made to Anna Heights Baptist Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the American Cancer Society. Envelopes will be available at the church.
To visit her memorial page and to leave online condolences for her family, visit the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home website at rendlemanhilemanfh.com.
Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna is assisting the family with arrangements.