Myrtle Weaver Simpson

Myrtle Weaver Simpson was born in Madison, Virginia, on April 11, 1929.  She was the ninth child of the late Reverend Cleveland Lewis Weaver and the late Mary Saunders Weaver.  In 1949 she met and married Joseph Carter, from this union was born a daughter, Criselda Maria Carter.  Having been reared in a loving Christian home and environment, Myrtle was aware of what the life of a good Christian should be and always tried to live in that manner throughout her life.

In 1942, she came to the District of Columbia to enhance her educational opportunities.  She attended Shaw Junior High School and subsequently Dunbar High School, receiving honors for academic performance from both schools.  After graduating from Dunbar in 1947, Myrtle attended Miner Teachers College, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish.  Later she received her Master of Education Degree from American University and did further studies at Trinity College and DC Teachers College.

In 1949 after graduating from Miner Teacher college Myrtle began her teaching career in French and Spanish a Kelly Miller Junior High School where she taught for nineteen years.  In 1972, she was requested to become a teacher at H.D. Woodson Senior High School, where she remained for eleven years. 

Throughout her teaching career, Myrtle was a sincere, dedicated and tireless educator and took great pride in the work and in her students.  She was instrumental in directing their life paths and in setting up high standards and expectations for them.  Many of her students went on to achieve success in a variety of fields.

It was while teaching at Kelly Miller Junior High School that Myrtle met and later marid Kenn Simpson (now deceased).  She and Kenn loved to travel and did so to many areas of the world, where they could observe and absorb the art and culture of the people.  These experiences and information were always used in the education of their students.  Among the places that they visited were, Thailand, Hong Kong, Paris, Rome, London, Senegal, Gambia, Brussels and various French or Spanish speaking islands.

Myrtle Weaver Simpson retired from the D.C. Public School System in 1982.  After retirement, she spent much of her time tutoring senior high and college students in French and Spanish. Myrtle published her first book of poems called “The Flow of Life”

Myrtle was often known as “The Lady with the Hats” and her admiring style and grace. She will be missed by many. Myrtle mourned the loss of her loving daughter Criselda Maria Carter and is survived by her granddaughter Cristi Purnell, her sister Mary Lou Johnson: stepson Kenn Simpson: step grandchildren Mark and Christian and also will be missed step-granddaughter Kimberly; nephews Mike and Tony Johnson(Shelia Johnson); Nieces Eileen Gwynn and Betty Long.

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