Jeanine Persons

Jeanine Marie Simpson Persons, 67, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025 in Columbia, MD. Despite experiencing significant health setbacks in the latter years of Jeanine’s life, she understood what it meant to endure trials well and maintained her characteristic love of life, people, and the Lord.

Jeanine was born on May 29, 1958, in Modesto, CA, to Marvin and Evelyn Simpson. As the third of four children, she developed a strong sense of the importance of family, faith, and service to others, which became the foundation for the rest of her life.

A lifelong learner, Jeanine possessed an insatiable desire to learn and develop skills. She was a skilled flutist, had a passion for antiques, a deep appreciation for art, and was an avid and active photographer. After graduating from Stayton High School in Stayton, Oregon, Jeanine could scarcely have predicted how the course of her life would take her around the world and touch the lives of countless people in multiple countries.

After marrying the love of her life, Richard Persons, on January 12, 1980, the couple embarked on an incredible faith-filled journey that spanned continents and brought six wonderful children into their lives – Stephen, Jennifer, Abigail, Alexander, Sarah, and Rebecca. Together, they lived in Oregon, Brazil, El Salvador, Bolivia and Nicaragua, as she supported Richard in his accounting practice and his service with USAID. These experiences also afforded her the opportunity to exercise her innate goodness and desire to serve and help others, as she tirelessly supported the family’s foray into the restaurant business. She pursued professional opportunities ensuring the safety of aircraft with the FAA, performing analysis in a social context to aid individuals in need, and becoming a specialist in exceptions with the Make-a-Wish foundation.

Jeanine’s big-hearted nature was also evident in the way she recognized needs and sought out opportunities to lift others and relieve suffering. One memorable example is when she ran a soup kitchen out of the family’s Suburban to provide food to those without while living in Bolivia. She loved people and animals, and she made her home into a place of refuge for both. She had several pets, including a macaw, a toucan, lovebirds, parrots, and multiple dogs and cats throughout her life.

A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jeanine served faithfully wherever and in whatever capacity she was called. With the loving support of Richard and her family, she served in leadership callings in Primary and Relief Society and enjoyed teaching others in seminary and in other teaching opportunities. Jeanine believed in the power of God and the reality of everyday miracles. Her faith and receptiveness to spiritual promptings guided her to Romania where she and Richard adopted their daughter Sarah, and led them out of harm’s way multiple times while travelling overseas.

In death, Jeanine was preceded by her parents Marvin and Evelyn Simpson, and her sister Karen, and her daughter Abigail.

Jeanine is survived by her dearly beloved husband Richard, as well as five of their children (11 grandchildren): Stephen (Pasco, WA), Jennifer (Seattle, WA), Alexander (Baltimore, MD), Sarah (Baltimore, MD), and Rebecca (Baltimore, MD).

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 1:00pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel, 4100 Saint Johns Lane, Ellicott City, MD, 21042.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Gilchrist Hospice Care or the Make-A-Wish Foundation.