Melba Simpkins

Tribute & Tallent Funeral and Cremations

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Melba Anne Eddleman Simpkins (Anne), from Knoxville, Tennessee, died on June 6, 2024 after a brief illness at Atrium Health Cabarrus Hospital in Concord, NC.  She was 73. Anne was married to the late Jesse E. Simpkins, is the daughter of the late Alton Brown Eddleman and the late Melba Inez Ketner Eddleman Stirewalt of Kannapolis, NC, sister to the late Gary W. Eddleman of Kannapolis, NC, and step-mother to the late Steve Simpkins of Knoxville, TN.  She is survived by two brothers, Ed Eddleman (Kristy) of Charlotte, NC and Keith Eddleman (Frank Macagnone) of New York, NY, a step-son, Mike Simpkins of Knoxville, TN, and his family. Anne grew up in the Kannapolis, NC  area.  She graduated from A. L. Brown Senior High School in 1968.  She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972 from Appalachian State University in Home Economics and Textiles. She also completed post-graduate studies in interior design at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.  She spent most of her adult life in the Knoxville, TN area providing interior design services and being active in various professional organizations.  After graduation from Appalachian State, Anne joined J. C. Penny’s as a design consultant for their Home Furnishings Department for four years. From 1977-1981, she worked as a design consultant for Decorating Den, where she became a member of their distinguished Century Club as recognition for her exceptional sales records.  From 1981-1995 she managed the Interior Design Department for Vaughn Furniture.  In 1985, Anne opened her own interior design firm, Living Interiors, Inc. and grew the business to provide interior design services for the Greater Knoxville area. She remained CEO of the firm for 11 years as it grew to employ multiple professionals from the interior design genre. For the past several years, Anne owned and operated two boutique booths, one in Knoxville, TN and one in Matthews, NC, where she sold handmade merchandise, collectables, and home décor items. Anne was an active member of numerous professional organizations and was elected to leadership roles in many of them.  She belonged to the Interior Design Society (IDS), the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and the National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA), to name a few.  From 1986-1988, she spearheaded the opening of the East Tennessee chapter of the IDS and served as chairperson for the chapter.  In 1988, she was appointed to the Executive Committee for the IDS and served as the National President of the Society from 1990-1992.  She served on the Board of Directors for the NHFA from 1990-1991.  At the time of her death, Anne was the District Chair for the Knoxville Chapter of the ASID and was on the Tennessee Board of the ASID. Anne loved to teach and impart her passion for interior design to others.  During her long career in design, she developed and produced many educational platforms to provide CEUs for designers.  In 1989, she was invited to join the Advisory Board for the Home Economics Department of Carson-Newman College to help educate the next generation of interior designers. She never forgot her roots in the Kannapolis area and visited frequently.  For many years she had dual residencies in both Knoxville, TN and Rockwell, NC.  She was a member of Center Grove Lutheran Church and remained a member throughout her life.  She was also active in the Knoxville YMCA where she loved to do water aerobics.  She was a member of many crafting groups.  She dabbled in just about every type of crafting that one could imagine. Finally, any description of Anne’s life would be incomplete without mention of her passion for music and singing. In the 1970’s and 80s, she belonged to Sounds of America, which was a large vocal group that traveled around the USA giving concerts. A memorial service to celebrate Anne’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, July 26, 2024 at Christ Lutheran Church, 4519 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC, 28226. A reception will follow the service at 3:00 pm in the Lower Commons of the church.  For anyone who wishes to attend the service but cannot do so physically, the service will be livestreamed and can be viewed from most web browsers at: https://youtube.com/live/eojZM8v0CJY In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to either the IDS or the ASID Tennessee in her name.  For the IDS, I have included an email below with contact information and information about Anne’s involvement in that organization.  The contact information for the Tennessee Chapter of the ASID is 1483 N. Mount Juliet Road, #175, Mount Juliet, TN, 37122 or asid@asidTN.org. Contributions to both organizations will be directed to a scholarship fund to help students entering the interior design field. Dear Ed and Keith,The local chapter of the Interior Design Society has started a memorial scholarship fund to benefit interior design students.  We would greatly appreciate you adding this option for memorials to Anne.Anne was a founding member of our Knoxville chapter and we are deeply indebted to her.  As our chapter grew, we established relationships with two institutions nearby — Carson-Newman University and Pellissippi State Community College.  Design students from both of these programs attend our meetings, take part in our educational programs, and appreciate the mentoring that established interior designers can provide.Anne was so deeply committed to the values and professionalism of IDS that she served as National President of IDS, too.  We are still so proud of her for representing our chapter at the national level. Anne often said, “Students are our future.”  I believe she would be thrilled to aid local students through memorials in her name.  We would greatly appreciate it if you would consider adding our scholarship fund as an option for those who wish to make memorial gifts for Anne.  Thank you so much!Memorial gifts may be mailed to:IDS Memorial Scholarship Fundc/o Dawn Pfundston, IDS Knoxville Treasurer2220 Bishops Bridge Rd.Knoxville, TN 37922.Sincerely,Janice Moore12924 Greeley LaneKnoxville, TN. 37934865-216-6966

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Melba Simpkins Obituary | Altogether