Patti Simpson

The Reverend Doctor Patti Tillman Simpson of South Oakmont Street, Kannapolis, passed away peacefully Monday, July 12, 2021, at her home.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 18, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Concord (parking is available behind the church and along both sides of the street). The family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m. and again following the service.

Born in Lancaster, SC, on November 13, 1958, with a congenital heart defect, she eventually underwent open heart surgery at Duke Hospital in 1964 becoming one of a first wave of pediatric open-heart patients in the country. Due to her diagnosis and subsequent surgery, Patti lived with multiple health challenges. Still, she became the first of her family to earn a B.S. degree which she did at the University of South Carolina. She continued her education by achieving a Master of Divinity at Southeastern Seminary and then furthered that with a Doctoral degree in Marriage and Family at Eastern Seminary in Philadelphia. She served churches in Plymouth, NC, as well as in Rock Hill and Bluffton, SC. During the last ten years of her ministerial career, she served as a chaplain for Hospice of Cabarrus County.

Patti is survived by her husband, The Reverend Doctor Scott Simpson; as well as a sister, Renee Tillman of Rock Hill; another sister, Kelly Sexton and her husband, Jamee along with their daughters, Maggee and Malloree also of Rock Hill; and a brother, Al Tillman with his wife, Lisa of Lancaster and their son, Garrett with his wife, Allison and children, Olivia and Connor of Rock Hill; their daughter, Kristie and her fiance, Michael Tuscany of Columbia; and another son, Grant of Lancaster.

Patti was preceded in death by three daughters, Katie Scott in 1986, Mollie Michele in 1987, and Kylie Christine in 2017; and also by her parents Pat and Catherine Tillman.

Memorials may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 731 Union St. South, Concord, NC 28025.