Mrs. Florence Ruby Clyde Payne Simpson passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Lomax Hannon Bible College, Greenville, Ala. Elder Tommie Means will be officiating with Carter Rice and West Funeral Home directing. Interment will follow at New Bethel Christian Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, Dec. 23, 2016 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Carter Rice and West Funeral Home, Greenville, Ala.

Florence was born in Greenville, Ala., to the late Herman and Voncile Payne. She was the ninth of 12 children. Five siblings preceded her in death: Willie George, Mattie Rouse, Robert Earl, Keith Curtis and Benjamin Payne.

At an early age, Florence joined New Bethel Christian Church where she remained a faithful member until she was called home to the Lord.

She graduated from Greenville High School in 1971. She graduated from Alabama State University in May 1978 where she received numerous awards for her academic achievements. She was employed with the Butler County Board of Education for 29 years as a history teacher. Florence is an alumni member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She received the Teacher of the Year award in 1997. In that same year, Florence was nominated to Jacksonville State University Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame, representing the Butler County School System. Throughout her many years of teaching Florence touched many lives. She had an extremely positive impact on the church, the community, and the students she taught.

Florence married the love of her life, Percy Simpson, on October 19, 1979.

She leaves to cherish her memories a loving and devoted husband, Percy Simpson (Greenville); stepmother, Gertrude Fails Payne (Greenville); two devoted stepdaughters, Connie Simpson (Greenville) and Angela Thompson (Pensacola, FL); a stepson, Carlos Simpson (Carson City, Nev.); a devoted granddaughter, Monica Simpson (Greenville); five brothers, Herman (Mary) Payne (Miami, Fla.), Jimmie Lane Payne, Alfred Payne, Henry Clay (all of Greenville) and Charles (Elois) Payne (Montgomery); one sister, Mildred (Roy) Brooks (Greenville); one devoted sister-in-law, Willie Ruth Payne (Montgomery); two brothers-in-law, Joe Lee (Lue Nelle) Simpson and Willie Ezelle Simpson (Birmingham); six sisters-in-law, Rev. Lou Helen Davis (Virginia), Lillie Bell Hawthorne (Greenville), Etture (General) Majors (Mobile), Lois Gregory (Greenville), Annie Davis (Greenville) and Dorothy Darrington (Montgomery); devoted nieces, Georgia Ruth Wright (Atlanta, GA), Yvette (Thorin) Shambray (Acworth, GA), Adrian Frost (Greenville), Latousha Daniels (Miama, FL), Reta Hamilton (Chesapeake, VA), Quintaysha Bedgood (Greenville), Tesharuh Payne (Greenville), Sidney Taylor (Greenville), Shawna Payne (Asheville, NC), Chasity (Anthony) Dixon Morgan (Luverne), Jan Hamilton (Wetumpka), Margaret Ann Crenshaw (Greenville) and Britney Payne (Montgomery); devoted nephews, Brett Taylor, Steven Payne, Nikkolas Payne and Henry Clay Jr. (all of Greenville). She also leaves a host of cousins and a special cousin, Floyd Milton (Georgiana), nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.