Dr. Joella H. Gipson-Simpson

Dr. Joella H. Gipson-Simpson January 8, 1929- January 31, 2012

Joella Hardeman Gipson-Simpson was born on January 8, 1929, in Los Angeles, California, to Martha Mathis Hardeman and Joseph Hardeman. Joella loved music. She began studying violin at the age of eight and became accomplished on several string instruments including the violin, cello, and piano. At Saint Agnes High School, in Los Angeles, Joella excelled academically as well as participated in oratorical contests, performing in plays and violin recitals.

Following high school, she became the first African-American accepted into Mount St. Mary's College for Women, in Los Angeles. She graduated in 1950 with a Bachelors of Music with a major in Instrumental Music and minors in English and Philosophy. Her hard work and perseverance in college was rewarded with a full academic scholarship for graduate school at the State University of Iowa and in 1951 she received the Master of Arts degree in Music Education. With degree in hand, Joella began a lifetime of service and work in education. She held positions at many institutions including Virginia Teachers College, Jackson State University, Southern University, Grambling University, Los Angeles Unified School district, University of Illinois-Urbana, State University of Iowa, University of Belize, Bluefield's Indian Cultural University, Gweru Teachers College, Zimbabwe, General Motors Institute, and Wayne State University.

While teaching at Southern University, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Joella met and married Theodore Horace Gipson. To this union one daughter, Teresa Frances, was born. Joella and Theodore left Southern University and relocated to Los Angeles, California where the family lived happily until Theodore's death in 1972.

Over time her interest shifted to Mathematics, and she became certified in and began teaching Mathematics in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She went on to earn her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana, in Mathematics Education and School Administration.

After earning her doctorate, Dr. Gipson accepted a position at Wayne State University where she rose to the rank of full professor. She served as a major advisor for 25 Doctoral Dissertations and 80 Masters Projects.

Dr. Gipson served as Principal Investigator for numerous grant programs from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. During her summers she coordinated and taught Math in the General Motors Institute, Flint-Sponsored Program for Middle and Senior High students of the Pontiac School District. In addition to her duties as a professor, Dr. Gipson's service to the Wayne State University community included: Coordinator for President George Gullen's Commission on the Status of Women; Chairperson for Grosberg Religious Center; Board Member for Catholic Campus Ministries; Executive Board member for twenty years for the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies; Executive Committee, College of Education; Committee Member for WSU Phylon Society; Faculty Advisor for WSU Chapter, Phi Delta Kappa International; and Member, King-Chavez-Parks (KCP) Visiting Professor Program Committee and Consultant KCP University Bound and Mission Possible Graduation Programs.

In 1980 she met and married William Lawrence Simpson. They made their home in Windsor, Ontario. Joella and Bill enjoyed traveling, entertaining, growing beautiful roses and attending many family and cultural events until his death in 2005.

One of the core values that Joella exemplified was service. A true believer in doing for others, Joella grew up helping her mom care for the homeless, sick and shut-in. She believed in the practical application of the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church and ,throughout her life, these values carried over to her many community service activities and professional memberships including Rotary International, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Archdiocese of Detroit Pastoral Council, Marygrove College Board of Trustees, Associate Group to the Sisters of Providence, Don Bosco Home for Boys, Our Lady of Guadalupe Middle School for Girls, Windsor-Essex County Mental Health Association Executive Board, SE Michigan Fulbright Alumni Executive Board, American Red Cross of Michigan; Goodwill Industries of SE Michigan; Rotary International Detroit Club 6400 Ambassadorial and Peace Scholars Committee, Field Reader for USDE, National Science Foundation, and Michigan Department of Education, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma International, National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, Awards and Honors Committee.

Dr. Gipson received numerous honors and awards in her lifetime including two Fulbright Senior Scholar Awards, Rotary International University Teachers Grant to Teach in Developing Countries, Detroit Area Council of Teachers of Mathematics Association Teacher of the Year, WSU Phi Delta Kappa, International, Teacher of the year, Mount Saint Mary's College, Outstanding Alumni of the Year, WSU Outstanding Community Service Faculty Award, CASIO Inc. Teacher Award, and University of California, Santa Barbara, Equity in Mathematics Education Leadership Institute, a two-year award.

Joella's husband Bill preceded her in death. Her daughter Teresa, son-in-law Vincent and grandson Musa mourn her passing along with the large extended family including Aaron and Pearl Roberts, Ralph and Sharon Brissette, Marilyn and Glenn Stockwell, Edward and Betty Simpson, Jack and Ann Simpson, Charles and Karen Simpson, Ruth-Ann and Thomas (deceased) Head, Peter (Ted) Simpson, Joe and Kathy Simpson, Mike Simpson, Kenny and Karen Simpson, Mark and Mary Simpson, Judy and Gerry Lemire and innumerable nieces and nephews.

Wake: February 10th, 3-8pm, Pye Funeral Home, Detroit MI. Services:February 11, 2012 .Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit, MI. Family Hour 11 a.m., Service 12pm