Willie Merle Willis

Willie Merle Willis, our beloved Mother and ‘Nana' to many, passed peacefully to be with her Lord Jesus on March 7, 2014. She was born on August 25, 1924 in Barbour County, Alabama to Roy R. Ketchum and Mattie L. Dansby Ketchum. She was a loving wife for sixty-two years to Arthur Alexander Willis who preceded her in death in February, 2006. Mrs. Willis attended Mt. Moriah Primitive Baptist Church, Columbus, GA. She retired from Sunshine Biscuit Company as a cookie packer. Fun loving, an avid gardner, a wonderful cook, and a devoted wife, Mother and ‘Nana', she will be greatly missed. She was dearly loved by her children, Jane Nebl and husband Jack of Eatonton, GA, Jerry Willis and his wife Millie of Midland, GA, and Rhonda Mixon and husband Benjamin of Orlando, Florida. She cherished her grandchildren, Jerry Arthur Willis, Jr. who preceded her in death, Stacy Rainey, Andrew Nebl, Elizabeth Holbein, and Adrienne Mixon. She had four great-grandchildren, Aidan Rainey, Benjamin Frederick Holbein, James Arthur Holbein, and Nathan Andrew Nebl.



She is survived by three sisters, Frances Graham, Evelyn Danner and Faye Carroll. Two brothers, Harold Ketchum, Lester Ketchum and two sisters, Mary Waters and Jewell Dean Graham preceded her in death.



A service celebrating her life will be conducted by McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907 on Friday, March 14, 2014 @ 2:00 PM with Rev. Tim Long officiating. Visitation with the family will begin at noon till 1:30 PM. Burial will follow at the Parkhill Cemetery.



Flowers will be accepted or donation can be made to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Willie Merle Willis.