James Robert’s Obituary Mr. James Robert Willis, Jr., 98, of Waycross was born into eternity Sunday afternoon at Memorial Satilla Health due to natural causes. He was born in Blackshear, Georgia to the late James Robert Willis, Sr., and Martha Jane Dixon. Mr. Willis had made Waycross his home for the majority of his life.
At the age of twenty, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served during World War II as a Staff Sergeant with Company F, 121st Infantry. He served in Ireland, France, Luxembourg, and Germany. He received two Purple Heart Medals, the American Defense Service Medal, EAMET Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
He was honorably discharged in July of 1945. Mr. Willis worked for Bailey Monument Company for several years before opening Waycross Monument Company in the 1960’s. He owned and operated Waycross Monument for over twenty years before retiring and selling the business to his good friend Vernon Fort.
After his retirement, he took a job as a bailiff for the Ware County Sheriff’s Department which he enjoyed very much and was extremely proud of. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the Men’s Sunday School Class, and served the church through the years in several different capacities. He loved to go dancing with his wife, Pearl, at the Elks Lodge, and take scenic drives with his daughter enjoying all the views nature had to offer.
Mr. Willis loved visiting with people and would often go out to eat or to the grocery store just so he could run into people and visit. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl, Taylor Willis, his daughter, Sharon Leigh Willis Bennett, his sister, Kathleen Duff and a half-sister, Susan. Mr. Willis is survived by his daughter, Sheila Willis of Waycross, his grandson, Richard Bennett and his wife Elisa of Waycross, one great granddaughter, Sharon Diana Bennett, five nieces and nephews, Dorothy Crump and her husband Roger of Alabama, Ann Quant of Mississippi, Troy Duff of California, Lee Cason of Florida, Susie Torres of Florida, three cousins, Sandra Fort and her husband Vernon of Waycross, Benny Hodges of Blackshear, Cindy Barber and her husband Alan of Waycross and numerous other relatives.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Mr. James Robert Willis, Jr., will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday at the First Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends Friday in the church social hall, beginning at 12:00 p.m. The family of Mr. Willis is gathering at the home of his grandson, Richard Bennett, 711 Holly Street, Waycross, Georgia 31501. Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.
milesodumfuneralhome.com.
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