On Saturday, July 4, 2026, beloved mother, sister, Gramma, aunt, and friend, Ms. Ruby Carolyn Simpson Craft, affectionately known by all as Ms. Carolyn, departed this earthly life at Baptist Memorial Hospital in New Albany, Mississippi, surrounded by the love and comfort of her devoted family.
Funeral Services honoring Ms. Carolyn’s beautiful life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in the Heritage Chapel of Ripley Funeral Home with Bro. King McCarver sharing the message and Bro. Winston Smith reading the obituary. Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Monday evening, July 6, 2026, at Ripley Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest in Beech Hill Church of Christ Cemetery, where a brief graveside service will follow.
Born on June 25, 1947, in Tippah County, Ms. Carolyn was the daughter of the late Milton Ferrell Simpson and Ruby Mae Thompson Simpson. She graduated from Ashland High School before continuing her education at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where she earned a degree in business. A woman whose life was defined by hard work, dedication, and integrity, Ms. Carolyn faithfully served the Tippah Electric Power Association for forty years. Throughout those decades, she became much more than a coworker—she became family to so many, forming lifelong friendships and becoming a familiar smiling face to everyone she encountered. She retired as Office Manager, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, professionalism, and unwavering commitment.
That same warm smile and servant’s heart were equally evident at Beech Hill Church of Christ, where Ms. Carolyn remained a faithful lifelong member. Her love for the Lord was reflected in every part of her life. She faithfully attended worship services and Bible studies, carefully taking notes during each lesson as she sought to grow deeper in her faith. Whether serving at church events or encouraging others with her kind and loving spirit, she was a cherished member of a congregation that loved her dearly.
Outside the walls of the church, Ms. Carolyn found joy in life’s simple blessings. She loved thrift shopping and searching for what she affectionately called her “treasures.” She enjoyed reading and using the talents God had blessed her with to create wreaths, jewelry, and handmade gifts for those she loved. One of her most treasured traditions was writing heartfelt poems inside birthday cards, making each one uniquely personal and a keepsake that family and friends will forever cherish.
Of all the titles she carried throughout her life, none brought her greater joy than being “Gramma.” She lovingly helped raise her grandchildren, filling their childhoods with laughter, encouragement, wisdom, and unconditional love. She taught them by her example—to love the Lord, appreciate life’s simple blessings, and always be thankful for God’s goodness. She never desired recognition or the spotlight. Instead, she found her greatest fulfillment in quietly serving others, always ready to lend a helping hand, offer loving support, or simply be present whenever someone needed her. Love, kindness, generosity, and selflessness were not merely qualities she possessed—they were the very way she lived her life.
The heart and glue of her family, Ms. Carolyn leaves behind a space that can never truly be filled. Her children have lost their steadfast rock, her grandchildren their greatest encourager, her sisters the third piece of a lifelong bond that so many lovingly recognized each Sunday at church, and her brothers a sister whose love, encouragement, and unwavering support meant more than words could ever express. While the days ahead will undoubtedly feel different, those who knew and loved Ms. Carolyn do not grieve without hope. Because of the faithful Christian life she lived and the light of Christ she reflected so beautifully, her family has the blessed assurance of knowing exactly where she is today. The same love she so freely poured into others throughout her earthly journey is now being experienced in its fullness as she rests forever in the presence of her Savior, Jesus Christ.
Those left to cherish her precious memory include her daughter, Alisa Rolison (Bo Vuncannon); her son, Alex Craft (Jennifer); her granddaughters, Melissa Rolison, Rachel Guerrero (Jose), and Anna Kate Rolison; her beloved great-granddaughter and namesake, Rosalina Ruby Guerrero; her sisters, Bettye Harrell (Dan) and Sandra Grisham (Lynn); her brothers, Dr. Tommy Simpson and Coleman Simpson (Sheila); along with a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and countless friends whose lives were forever blessed by knowing her.
She was welcomed into her eternal home by her parents; her beloved grandson, Andrew Rolison, with whom she shared such a special bond; her stepmother, Ernestine Simpson; and her sister-in-law, Frances Simpson.
Though her earthly journey has ended, the legacy of faith, compassion, generosity, and unwavering love that Ms. Carolyn leaves behind will continue to live on in every heart she touched. Her life was a beautiful reflection of Christ’s love, and because of that, her memory will forever remain a treasured blessing to all who knew her.
Ripley Funeral Home invites you to share memories with Ms. Carolyn’s family.
