Odessa Jernigan Willis, 85, of Tifton died Wednesday, November 27, 2013, at the Rehabilitation Center of South Georgia. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 30, 2013, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Grady Morey officiated with burial following in Saint Luke Baptist Church Cemetery in Berrien County. The family received friends on Friday, November 29, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Willis was born on October 5, 1928 in Berrien County and was the daughter of Ocie Jernigan and Annie Bell Williams Jernigan, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Dwight Willis; one son, J. W. Willis; two daughters, Brenda Willis and Glenda Joyce Madaris; three brothers; one sister; and a grandson, Kenneth Willis. She was a homemaker and a school teacher in Alapaha and was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Sylvester.
Mrs. Willis is survived by one son, Fred Willis of Sylvester; five grandchildren, Thomas Willis and his wife Sherri, Tammy Moncada, Brandy Willis, Patti Douville and Andy Madaris; and four great-grandchildren, Bryce Willis, Blake Willis, Spencer Douville and Lucas Moncada.
Condolences may be sent to the family at the online guest registry at www.bowen-donaldson.com. Services for the Willis family were under the care and direction of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
