Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Suni Djenaba Mayo-Simpson |
| Birth | July 1971 (age 54) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupations | Production designer, voice actor, theater performer |
| Known for | Daughter of actor Whitman Mayo; indie film production design; audiobook narration |
| Parents | Whitman Blount Mayo Jr. (1930–2001) and Gail Reid (d. 2007) |
| Siblings | Rahn Mayo (full brother), Tanya/Tonya Mayo (full sister); possible half-siblings reported but unconfirmed |
| Base of operations | Brooklyn, New York; Florida (reported) |
| Notable screen/design credits | Rivers Wash Over Me (2009), Game Time (2011), One Bedroom (2018, short) |
| Notable voice credit | Gadget Geeks (2017 audiobook) |
| Theater | A Song for Coretta (2024, South Florida; role: Mona Lisa) |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Social presence | Low-key; Facebook and X (@TheSistah) sporadically active; avid reader on book platforms |
Early Life and Family Roots
Suni Mayo-Simpson was born in July 1971 into a household where craft and character mattered as much as the camera. Her father, Whitman Mayo—beloved by millions as Grady Wilson on Sanford and Son—married Gail Reid in 1974, and together they raised three children: Rahn, Tanya, and Suni. The family’s life straddled the worlds of West Coast sets and Southern community, with Whitman’s fame providing both opportunity and scrutiny.
Loss arrived early in her adult life: Whitman died in 2001 and Gail in 2007. Those twin absences forged a family ethos of quiet resilience. Reported but unconfirmed half-siblings from Whitman’s prior marriage(s) surface in occasional tributes, yet the public record most firmly centers on the trio with Gail. As the youngest, Suni grew up adjacent to stardom but charted her own path—one measured not in red carpets but in well-placed props, layered textures, and evocative spaces.
Carving a Path Behind the Camera: Production Design
Mayo-Simpson’s industry footing began in the early 2000s with hands-on prop work, where independent film demands taught economy and ingenuity. That apprenticeship matured into full-fledged production design, most notably on Rivers Wash Over Me (2009). The film’s interiors, charged with psychological nuance, mirrored the characters’ inner weather, helping the performances stand taller.
She expanded her toolkit on Game Time (2011), doubling as costume designer—proof that in the indie world, the Swiss Army knife often wins the day. By 2018’s One Bedroom (short), she displayed a clean, contemporary sensibility: modular, believable spaces that feel lived-in without calling attention to the design itself. Her style is collaborative and story-first, the cinematic equivalent of a well-tuned bass line—felt, not forced.
Finding Her Voice: Audiobooks and Audio Craft
In 2017, Mayo-Simpson stepped into the booth, bringing a supple voice to audiobooks and commercial projects. Gadget Geeks, a family-friendly audiobook, showcased her range—youthful brightness for inventive kids, a warmer register for narrative glue, with accents that travel from Southern cadence to British edges and Caribbean lilt.
Her home setup—professional microphone and interface, Apple-based workflow—supports quick turnarounds and clean, broadcast-ready audio. She’s a utility player in this arena too, voicing characters, narration, and occasional datasets. If production design builds the world you see, her voice paints the air inside it.
On Stage and In the Moment: Theater
Theater arrived as a late but natural chapter. In 2024 she portrayed Mona Lisa, a Hurricane Katrina survivor, in A Song for Coretta at a South Florida venue. Ensemble work thrives on give-and-take, and Mayo-Simpson’s performance reportedly lent ballast and tenderness—the kind of role where restraint rings louder than bravado.
Work Style, Recognition, and Finances
Mayo-Simpson operates away from the glare of major awards. That’s by design as much as by circumstance: independent films rarely flood trophy shelves, but they do build reputations among directors, crews, and casts. Her recognitions come as repeat calls, grateful credits, and the hushed endorsements that pass from one producer to another. Financial details aren’t public; industry averages suggest indie production designers often work project-to-project at modest rates, supplemented by voice work that rewards speed and versatility.
Family Members
| Name | Relation | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitman Blount Mayo Jr. | Father | 1930–2001 | Actor known for Sanford and Son; pillar of the family’s creative legacy. |
| Gail Reid Mayo | Mother | d. 2007 | Family anchor; married Whitman in 1974; mother of Rahn, Tanya, Suni. |
| Rahn Mayo | Brother | b. ~1975 | Former Georgia state representative; public service track. |
| Tanya/Tonya Mayo | Sister | b. ~1970s | Maintains privacy; part of the close sibling trio. |
| Pangi Raysor | Reported half-sister (unconfirmed) | — | Occasionally cited in tributes; relationship not verified in primary records. |
| Jon-Jo Raysor | Reported half-brother (unconfirmed) | — | Occasionally cited in tributes; relationship not verified in primary records. |
| Patricia Yorck | Former stepmother | — | Whitman’s prior marriage; possible link to reported half-siblings. |
| Melva Washington | Former stepmother | — | Whitman’s earlier marriage; no confirmed children publicly listed. |
Selected Career Timeline
- 1971: Born in July, United States.
- 1974: Parents marry; family life bridges showbiz and community roots.
- 2001: Father passes; Suni is ~30.
- 2002: Early film work in props builds practical, on-set skill.
- 2009: Production designer on Rivers Wash Over Me; noted for atmospheric realism.
- 2011: Game Time credit merges production and costume design.
- 2017: Audiobook narrator for Gadget Geeks; expands into voice work with multiple accents.
- 2018: One Bedroom (short) showcases contemporary urban design sensibility.
- 2024: Stage role as Mona Lisa in A Song for Coretta (South Florida).
- 2025: Profiled for a steady, multifaceted indie career; continues freelance projects.
Style and Method: How She Builds Worlds
Mayo-Simpson approaches sets like a careful anthropologist: every chipped mug, every scuffed doorframe, every fabric choice whispers backstory. Budgets are often lean, which makes choice and placement paramount. Her spaces feel breathable and specific, guiding the camera without trapping it. The same sensibility infuses her voice work—tone as texture, pacing as architecture, character as color grade.
Online Presence and Public Profile
Her social media footprint is deliberate and sparse. A handful of posts around 2017 highlight voice-release news, while personal updates surface mainly through private channels. Readers may spot her book lists in public reading communities and occasional mentions tied to theater productions or indie film retrospectives. Absent are the stream-of-consciousness feeds and glossy reels; present is the steady hum of someone who does the work and moves on to the next scene.
FAQ
Who is Suni Mayo Simpson?
She is an American production designer, voice actor, and theater performer known for indie film work and audiobook narration.
How is she related to Whitman Mayo?
She is the youngest child of actor Whitman Mayo and his wife Gail Reid.
What are her notable projects?
Highlights include production design on Rivers Wash Over Me (2009) and audiobook narration for Gadget Geeks (2017).
Has she won major awards?
No major awards are publicly documented, aligning with her focus on independent projects.
What is known about her personal life?
She keeps her personal life private, with no public details on marital status or children.
Where does she live?
She has been associated with Brooklyn, New York, and Florida; she maintains a low public profile.
Does she have half-siblings?
Some tributes mention possible half-siblings, but these references are unconfirmed in primary records.
What is her current career focus?
She continues freelance work across production design, voice acting, and selective theater roles.
Is she active on social media?
Only minimally; occasional posts appear on Facebook and X, with no heavy presence elsewhere.
What is known about her finances?
No public disclosures exist; her career suggests a modest, project-based income typical of indie creatives.
