Dora Prater Simpson

Remembering our beloved Dora Prater Simpson

Mrs. Dora Prater Simpson was a beloved daughter, wife, mother, aunt, cousin, and friend. She was a dedicated life-long educator who loved teaching young- elementary-age children, and her favorite class was definitively second graders. Dora enjoyed their sense of exploration, eagerness to engage in new activities, and delightful commitment to daily learning and playing. Dora was a loyal friend to many and was always available to perform acts of service for others. Those who knew her, surely can attest to Dora’s fervent commitment to the second greatest commandment, to do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Dora certainly lived by the greatest commandment, loving the Lord, our God, above all things. She was baptized at an early age at Kingsford Baptist Church in Woodville, Mississippi and was a steadfast follower of Jesus for the remainder of her life. She was a true woman of God. After moving to Ohio, she became active in a local church and in 1980 became a loyal member of First Church of God Miamisburg.

Born on March 12, 1940 in Woodville, Mississippi, Dora was the sixth of eight children born to the late Edward King Prater and the late Ninnie Elizabeth Smith Prater. Her childhood was full of fun, games, and rambunctious play with her two younger siblings, Brenda and Wesley. It was Dora, however, the eldest of the three, who modeled stellar behavior for her younger brother and sister, as had been modeled for her by the older siblings, as their parents directed. These wonderful family adventures live on in the family’s storytelling.

Dora’s early years of education were spent in a one-room schoolhouse, Kingsford Elementary School in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, where her mother taught her and her three sisters through eighth grade. Her other four siblings, the boys, were also taught by their mother for numerous years of elementary school. Dora completed the ninth and tenth grades at Johnson High School in Woodville prior to moving with her second oldest brother, Robert and sister-in-law, Theresa, during her junior and senior high school years at Utica High School in Utica, Mississippi, where she earned her high school diploma. She matriculated at Alcorn State College (now Alcorn State University) in 1957 where she successfully pursued a baccalaureate degree in Elementary Education, bestowed in 1961. During her years of enrollment she sharpened her many gifts, formed lifelong friendships, and joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Dora was a highly favored student and was crowned Miss Alcorn her senior year. Later, Dora completed additional studies at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

While at her beloved Alcorn, Dora met the love of her life, Willie Neal Simpson, a Hattiesburg native and a fellow Alcornite student and athlete. Once they met and talked, there was an immediate connecting spark that grew into a lasting, compassionate, and deeply compatible relationship. Their beautiful and loving spousal bond began on August 3, 1969, with a celebration of matrimony at Dora’s home church in Woodville. They spent a year in Nashville and then moved to the Dayton, Ohio area where they continued to live a remarkable marital life. In 1975, Dora’s and Simp’s love bore their first and only beloved child, Scott Neal Simpson, (June12-1975-March 31,1996), who will always be the bright shining star in their lives.

Dora’s professional career in education spanned more than 30 years, impacting the lives of children in Fayette and Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Marksville, Louisiana, and Beavercreek, Ohio, where she spent the majority of her teaching years.

She cherished all children which was exemplified by her illustrious teaching career. Her affection for her nieces and nephews was demonstrated through the countless inquiries, cards, gifts, letters of encouragement, and summers spent dedicated to their tutoring and other educational enhancements in her home and through travel experiences.

In addition to her son, Scott Neal Simpson and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward King (Ninnie) Prater, Dora’s brothers Leonard King Prater, Robert Lee Prater, and Fred Charles Prater and sister, Brenda Prater Earhart and sister- in -law, Theresa Neal Prater, preceded her in death. Dora leaves to cherish her memory her loving, compassionate and kindhearted husband, Dr. Willie Neal Simpson, step-daughter, Kimberly Wright, sisters, Mary Prater Demby and Daisy Prater Tillman, and brother, Wesley F. Prater, M.D. (Gwendolyn). She is survived by sisters-in-law, Eva Ross Prater, Sandra Wright Simpson, Audrey Faye Simpson McGee, Katherine Simpson, and Olivia Simpson Smith and brother-in-law, Malcolm A. Earhart, J.D. She is also survived by a host of nieces, Wanda Jenkins (Kenneth), Adrienne Diane Demby, Tiombe Bey-Woodson (J’Nairo), Anjeanetta Matthews (Sterling), and Djenaba Ain Prater; and nephews, Randy Tillman (Toni), Brian Prater Demby (Shawna), Robert Edward Prater (Djuna), Dion Prater (Aleatrice), Malcolm Alan Earhart III, Wesley Spencer Prater, Ph.D. (Rhea), Victor Wyatt-Prater, Ph.D.(Sherritha), and Alfred Earl Simpson, Jr., Ph.D.(Leah); and a host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins, friends, and former students.

A Visitation will be held Thursday, September 25, 2025 from 11:00AM until the time of the Service at 12:00PM at Miamisburg First Church of God, (446 N Heincke Rd, Miamisburg, OH 45342). A Graveside will follow at Woodland Cemetery. To share a memory of Dora or leave a special message for her family, please visit the Guestbook below.