The Long Good Night: My Father’s Journey into Alzheimer’s

An Unforgettable Journey of Faith, Family, and Incurable Southern Charm
Discover the beautifully poignant, laugh-out-loud funny, and deeply faithful family memoir that started it all. Originally published by Wm. B. Eerdmans in 2003, The Long Good Night: My Father’s Journey Into Alzheimer’s by Daphne Simpkins is back in a definitive new reprint edition.
Before introducing readers to her beloved, iconic Southern church lady Mildred Budge in fiction, Daphne Simpkins penned this touching, real-life love letter to her parents, capturing the daily grace, trial, and rich Southern humor of a family navigating a devastating diagnosis.
About the Book:
When Jerry Simpkins—a brilliant, six-foot-tall retired civil engineer, expert handyman, and devoted Sunday school teacher—begins to struggle with his language skills, his daughter Daphne knows a long winter of the mind is setting in. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Jerry’s sharp wit and unyielding energy begin to twist into the incomprehensible world of memory loss and “confabulation.”
Yet, where medical charts find only deterioration, the Simpkins family finds an enduring testimony to human love and divine grace. Backed by her devoted mother, Lola—who is still fiercely in love with her husband after decades of marriage—Daphne becomes her father’s “number-one helper.” Set against the slow, warm backdrop of everyday life in Alabama, this touching memoir traces how a family uses faith-friendly, small-town humor, laughter, and prayer to transform anger and frustration into beautiful, redeeming moments.
Why Readers Love The Long Good Night:

• A Masterclass in Southern Humor: From eccentric neighbors and family secrets to accidental trips to local gravel pits and midnight snack showdowns over potassium-rich bananas, Simpkins delivers authentic Southern wit that will have you laughing through tears.
• An Inspiring Christian Caregiver Memoir: Unlike heavy, clinical accounts, this book views the chaos of dementia through a lens of deep Christian faith, proving that while the mind may falter, the soul remains securely anchored in God’s perfect love.
• The Root of Mildred Budge: Fans of the bestselling Mildred Budge small-town Southern fiction series will delight in discovering the real-life family stories, Southern sensibilities, and heartwarming insights that inspired their favorite retired school teacher protagonist.
• A Balm for Caregivers: A comforting companion for anyone walking the difficult path of caring for an aging parent or spouse with dementia, offering visual snapshots of hope, viable joy, and unexpected peace at life’s toughest intersections.

Whether you are looking for an uplifting Christian biography, an authentic slice of small-town Southern life, or a compassionate guide to finding joy in the midst of Alzheimer’s caregiving, The Long Good Night invites you into a “magnificent edifice” of unconditional love.
Scroll up, click “Buy Now,” and step into the warm embrace of the Simpkins family.