MR. WILLIAM JAMES WILLIS, SR.– Age 91, Of Dalton, Georgia entered into eternal rest on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Hamilton Medical Center. He was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church, a graduate of Emery Street School in 1942, the Atlanta College of Mortuary Science in 1947, attended Morehouse College, was a World War II U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, and received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor in 2013. Born in Tignall, (Wilkes County), Georgia, he was son of the late, Rev. James Walter Willis and Minnie Lee Andrews Willis. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Jonas and Marion Willis, and granddaughter, Willisa Harriet Marsh. He was co-founder with his wife of Willis Funeral Home in 1949. His survivors are: his loving wife of sixty-eight years, Dorothy Sprowl Willis; three children, William J. (Joyce) Willis, Jr., Minnie R. (Hubert) Marsh, Sr., and Mary L. (Dony) Suttles; devoted sister, Geraldine “Geri” Pero, all of Dalton; six grandchildren, H. Andrew (Leverne) Marsh of West Orange, New Jersey, Joycelyn (Clint) Richards of Cartersville, Georgia, Daryll Tinson of Dalton, Juanita (Craig) Hicks of Villa Rica, Georgia, Derrick Tinson, and Daniel Tinson, of Dalton; four great grandchildren, William Hicks, Andrea Marsh, Bella Hicks, and Carson Richards; sisters-in-law, Vivian Pender of Canton, Ohio, Emma Lee Willis of Santa Monica, California, Maggie Sprowl, Johnnie Sprowl, Estelle Willis of Detroit, Michigan, Willie “Tiny” Reynolds of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; brothers-in-law, Thomas “Bud” Sprowl of Edmond, Oklahoma and Raleigh (Eloise) Sprowl; devoted cousin, William “Motion” Famber; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, dedicated caregivers, Willis Funeral Home Staff and professional associates, and friends. The Service to Celebrate the Life of Mr. William J. Willis, Sr. will be held Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 12:00 Noon at Shiloh Baptist Church, 2014 Martin L. King, Jr. Blvd. Dalton, Georgia. His remains will lie in state at the funeral home on Monday and Tuesday after 11:00 A.M. Interment, West Hill Cemetery. Please share your thoughts and memories of Mr. William J. Willis at www.willisfuneralhomedalton.com. Arrangements by Willis Funeral Home, Inc., Dalton, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to The Emery Center, P.O. Box 1931, Dalton, Georgia 30722, Hopewell Baptist Church, P.O. Box 3184, Dalton, Georgia 30719, or to a charity of your choice. For those who will be traveling from out of town, there is lodging available at the Holiday Inn Express for $119.00 plus tax, Courtyard by Marriott for $89.00 plus tax, and Hampton Inn for $89.00 plus tax. When checking in, please be sure to ask for the Willis Family Bereavement rate.
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