By Monroe Roark

Times Correspondent

  Dr. Marinelle W. Simpson, an educator and community leader for seven decades, died October 16 at her home in McDonough. She was 91.

  A Lamar County native, she came to Henry County in 1950 after graduating from the University of Georgia. Beginning as an assistant home economist, she helped expand the local 4-H program and built the foundation for what it is today. In 1954 she was selected to represent the entire state in an exchange program that sent her to Sweden to live for six months with various families, after which she shared Swedish culture through more than 500 presentations to civic groups across Georgia.

  She started teaching in Hampton while continuing her own studies at UGA through a national science grant and a fellowship which led to a master’s degree. Then she taught science for 16 years at Henry County High School, also serving as a future teacher advisor, and was honored as Teacher of the Year both at the school level and countywide. She led a group of 30 students on a 30-day tour of Europe in 1969.

  Simpson was among the first to obtain a specialist degree by the University System of Georgia, then served as the first-ever female administrator at the high school level in Henry County until she transferred to Henderson Elementary and became the county’s first female principal at any level. She held that position for 10 years until her retirement, earning her doctorate in 1985. That was her fourth degree from the University of Georgia over four decades.

  After her retirement in 1991, Dr. Simpson became a full-time volunteer for a variety of interests including the Arts Alliance, Henry County Scholarship Foundation, American Cancer Society, and Henry Clean and Beautiful. She maintained her affiliations with AARP on the state and local levels as well as the American Cancer Board, Georgia Retired Educators Association and Henry County Retired Educators Association. She founded Henry County Cancer Services in 2002 and was a Georgia Master 4-H Club lifetime member. Her other personal interests included singing, playing the piano, gardening, arts and crafts, and antiquing with her husband.

  In another first, she was presented the inaugural Margrit Broder “Woman of Substance” Award from the Henry County Chamber of Commerce.  She was an organizing charter member of the Andrew McBride Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and received the DAR Women in History Award for her lifelong achievements.