Celebration of Life Planned for C.O. Simpkins

Shreveport and the entire region will pause this weekend to remember civil rights pioneer Dr. C.O. Simpkins.

Family visitation is planned for Friday afternoon at Galilee Baptist Church on Pierre Avenue. Dr. Simpkins will lie in state from 1pm on Friday until the famliy visitation which begins at 3pm.

The Celebration of Dr. Simpkins' life will be held at the church at noon on Saturday.

Dr. Simpkins passed away last week after battling a lengthy illness. He was 94.

He was a friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a co-founder Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Family members request in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the North Louisiana Civil Rights Coalition.

Dr. Simpkins served on the Shreveport City Council and in the State Legislature. He made a run for Mayor, but was defeated by Hazel Beard.

This is a great video detailing Dr. Simpkins' life:

Here is our interview with Dr. Simpkins from 2016: