Madelyn’s Obituary “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying good-bye so hard”. Winnie the Pooh. Madelyn Hamilton Wills died in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 19, 2019.
She was born in Sistersville, Ohio, to Clarence and Mabel Frye Selmon on January 8, 1926. She is predeceased by two husbands, James W. Hamilton and James P. Wills. Those left to cherish her memory are her children Ron Hamilton and wife, Shino, Lynn Hamilton Gray, Dale Hamilton, and Kent Hamilton; one beloved grandchild, Alex “James” Hamilton and wife, Christine, of Columbus, Ohio.
Mrs. Wills served as the Executive Director of the Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana for 40 years. During her tenure many programs were initiated which trained thousands of area residents, such as driver programs and industrial and supervisory training. With the assistance of area judges, the council initiated several “alternative sanction programs,” such as the DWI Substance Abuse Program, the Community Service Program, and the Behavior Management Program.
Additionally, she initiated the Juvenile Community Service Program, which offered juveniles a way to make restitution for their offenses. She represented accredited chapters on the National Safety Council Board of Directors for four years. A special interest was the 911 Communications District, on which she served more than twenty years.
Mrs. Wills was a member of numerous community groups, including the Red Cross at Chennault Air Base Hospital in the late 1950’s, District Boy Scout Advisory Committee, Mothers March Chairperson, Business and Professional Women’s Club, Quota Club, Enterprise Club, Literacy Council, Humana Hospital Board, Lake Area Hospital Auxiliary, American Society of Association Executives, National Platform Speakers’ Association, Louisiana Foundation for Reading, Safety Engineering Society of Southwest Louisiana, Pioneer Club, Calcasieu Kiwanis Club, and the State Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board. During her children’s school years, Mrs. Wills was active in the PTA, serving in several local council and district offices. She became State President and later was elected Secretary of the National PTA.
Involved in curriculum development, she field-tested several joint programs of the National Safety Council and the National PTA. She co-authored a textbook on driver education which was published by Harper-Row, and was an Association Editor of the National PTA Magazine. On several occasions, Mrs. Wills presented Congressional testimony on health and safety in the development of public policy related to child safety.
Among her numerous honors, Mrs. Wills received the Distinguished Service to Safety Award by the National Safety Council; Golden Wheel Award by American Automobile Association, Liberty Bell Award, presented by the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, Community Service Award, presented by MADD for victim support efforts, honorary life memberships in Louisiana PTA and National PTA, and Outstanding Service to Safety presented by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. A visitation celebrating her life will be held at Johnson Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 from 4 until 7 p.m. Per her request, her body was donated to medical science. A private service will be held at a later date.
To quote one of her favorite sayings, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s learning to dance in the rain”. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
In closing, her family wishes to express their gratitude to her excellent nurses and Doctors Holley Kelley, Thomas Mulhearn, and Ben Thompson.
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