As the congregations of Wake Eden Community Baptist and the Bronx Baptist churches saw Jeremiah Simpson, the 75-year-old father of eight children and grandfather of 23, he was much more than a deacon of the Bronx Baptist that was founded half a century ago by the late Rev. Dr. Samuel D. Simpson.

“Deacon Jerry was a branch of each family tree, the quintessential pillar of the church,” said the Rev Frank Williams, senior pastor of both religious institutions.

“Deacon Jerry was the brother of the churches’ founder and his mission was clear: to serve the Lord and the church,” added Pastor William.

Whether it was in devout worship, involvement in the operations of the food pantry and soup kitchen, undertaking spring or fall cleaning, maintaining church property or getting people to and from services and other activities the story was the same: Deacon Jerry’s hand was on the throttle.

Professionally, he was a maintenance engineer in Mt.

Sinai Medical Center’s Department of Building Services and when he was not working diligently to ensure that hospital facilities were functioning at maximum efficiency, Deacon Jerry served the sick in an additional way: he visited ailing members of Bronx Baptist Church and the homebound to give them a spiritual lift.