Marlene Simmons Campbell

Marlene Simmons Campbell, 85, of Morganton, NC, went home on Wednesday June 11th 2025, to be with the Lord after several years of declining health. Marlene, affectionately known to the family as 'MeMe,' was born in Morganton on July 17th, 1939, to the late Marnie and Beulah Simmons. Marlene was a graduate of Morganton High School. After graduation, Marlene attended and graduated from Kings Business College in Charlotte, North Carolina. Marlene had a long and distinguished career as Administrative Assistant to V. P. of Finance at Drexel Heritage Furniture in Morganton where she was employed for fifty years before her well-earned retirement. In addition to her work at Drexel Heritage. Marlene was an avid family historian who authored a manuscript of the Simmons and Mace family trees. Her research and involvement with family and friends in genealogy was a constant source of enjoyment for her in her retirement. Up until her most recent medical emergency she was actively pursuing new leads on little-known facts about her family history. Her breath of knowledge of the people and events that shaped her family was unsurpassed. Shortly before her death she was actively involved in the purchase and placing of markers on the graves of long-gone family members whose graves were either unmarked or damaged. She wanted to make sure that their contributions to her family were never forgotten. Marlene was a lifelong member of Mt. Home Baptist Church where she was a long-time member of the church choir., church pianist for twenty-five years and actively involved in other activities with her church family. In addition to her other activities, Marlene was a long-time member of the Morganton Chapter of the Eastern Star where she enjoyed being the pianist at various functions over the years. Marlenes sweet disposition and contagious loving spirit allowed her to make friends easily whose relationships lasted a lifetime. She enjoyed talking and texting with her friends to make sure they stayed in close contact. Hers was a genuine love and friendship that lasted through the years. She loved her family with all her heart and shared her love through her personal interaction and her wonderful cooking. No one will ever forget her famous ham, potato salad and sweet potato casserole which were the highlights of any family gathering. She had a giving spirit based on true love and compassion for her family and friends. She loved to send and receive cards for practically any occasion. Each card was carefully selected to fit the person and event. She always remembered important dates in the lives of her family and made sure they got their cards and surprises. Even in her declining years, Marlene possessed a keen mind and amazing memory of people and important dates in each of her family and friends lives. She was truly one of the sweetest and most caring persons God ever created. She had the unique ability to make each sibling, and their children feel as though they were her favorite and in reality, they were. Her smile could light up a room. She was blessed to be a blessing to her circle of family and friends. She enjoyed a close and loving family who visited and stayed in touch with each other on a regular basis. Everyone has their favorite MeMe story or memory, and, in that way, she will live on in the hearts and minds of those she loved who loved her back. Hers was a life of faith, family and friends well lived which truly made a difference.

No tribute to Marlene would be complete without the mention of Bill who was the love of her life. Theirs was a love story for the ages. From their meeting in school and later marriage, Marlene and Bill shared a lifetime of love spanning sixty-one years until his death in 2023. Not a day passed in which she did not think about or mention Bill and how much she missed him. Theirs was a true love story that transcended over seven decades. She longed to go home to be with Bill.

Marlene was preceded in death by her husband, Bill David Campbell of the home; and her brother, Gary Wayne Simmons of Kingsport, TN.

She is survived by her sister, Coila Simmons Hawkins, of Morganton, NC, sister-in-law, Brenda Newton Simmons of Kingsport, Tennessee, sister Brenda Simmons Druelle, and husband Don Druelle, of North Agusta, SC, and sister Sharon Simmons Stroupe-Triggs and husband C. Gary Triggs of Bethlehem, NC as well as many nieces and nephews.

The graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday at Mt. Home Baptist Church Cemetery in Morganton, NC with Pastor Ethan Cromer and Associate Pastor Rocky Hartman officiating. The family will greet friends in the church fellowship hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to Mt. Home Baptist Church General Fund, 2272 Mt. Home Church Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Visitation

June 14, 2025
11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Mt. Home Baptist Church

Service

N/A
Committal

June 14, 2025
11 a.m.

Mt. Home Baptist Church