Service
Mrs. Mildred White Willis, Co-Founder & Co-Owner of Willis and Sons Funeral home. Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at Word and Wordship Church 6286 Hanging Moss Rd, Jackson, MS at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will be Saturday, February 27, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p. m. at Willis and Sons Funeral Home 5235 Robinson Rd Ext., Jackson MS. Interment: Natchez Trace Memorial Park Cemetery, Madison MS.
Obituary
Mildred White Willis was born into this world on January 7, 1953 in Prentiss Mississippi to the proud parents of Vernell and Electrix White. She was the sixth of seven children.
Mildred grew up in Prentiss during the 60's, a period in History that's refle by Civil Rights and Desegregation of schools. However, she attended Elementary, Grade School, and graduated from Prentiss High School amidst the barriers that existed.
Mildred's ambition was to attend collee and earn a Degree in Public Communication. Her dream became reality. She enrolled in the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She diligently completed her studies and received the Bachelor's Degree that she aspired to.
One fascinating thing abouth the South was the strong commitment to religion. While growing up as a child, her parents would take her and her siblings to church and Sunday school every Sunday. We can still remember the Sunday programs and the picnic baskets under the Oak and Pine trees. All the mothers of the church would prepare delicious food that we refer to today as "Soul Food". Somehow you can smell the aroma and taste those succulent dishes dripping from your mouth. It was that dedication that at an early age, Mildred was introduced to the Gospel of Christ. She attended church with her parents and confessed her faith shortly thereafter. She has been a faithful church member starting with membership at Mt. Calvary and later New Hope Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Jerry Young. At New Hope, Mildren found her calling. She joined the Choir, that she so looked forward to being a part of each Sunday or whenever duty called.
After graduating from USM, Mildred entered the wold of work. Her first job was with WJTV channel 12 where she co-anchored a noon day show with Wynette Hawkins. While trying to establish herself, she would work a full-time day job before going to a part-time job. One of those part-time jobs, Bell South Telephone Company, turned into a career which allowed her to progress from telephone operator to Customer Service Manager for Regional Ofices in Jackson, the Gulf Coast and Northern Mississippi. At that time she was a part of the original "first blacks" being hired by the major telecommnications company.
Mildred met the love of her life, Arthur N. Willis, Jr., in 1974 while working at WJTV Channel 12. The rest is history. They were married April 4, 1980. To this union, two boys wre born; Jason and Antony. Over the years, the family developed a running joke that Arthur could never remember their Anniversary. He would always say that their Anniversary was on the Saturday before Easter. A little humor was always good for the soul. Mildred was a devoted wife, mother and friend. She was Arthur's best friend and vice versa that she affectionately call him "Friend".
Mildred experienced many joys in life, especially that of geing a grandmother. She loved to cook for family gatherings during holiday seasons and special occasions. There was always a request for her sweet potato pie and that decadent cream cheese pound cake that we're going to miss. Friends and family were always the center of her love of life. She would always enjoy the company of her best friend Kathy, who accompanied her on numerous shopping trips, family outings and just plain old home visits.
With Mildred's strong work ethics and Arthur's business endeavors, it led them to open Lakeover Memorial Funeral Home in 1988, an idea that was contemplated over a conversation at their kitchen table. Perhaps, because Arthur's father and grandfather both worked in the funral home business. Like father, like son following in his footsteps with Mildred right by his side. They worked very hard to build a successful business and are still proud owners. In September 2001, Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home was established at 2102 Clay Street, Vicksburg, MS. Being the entrepreneurs that they were, yet another vision was realized; Willis and Sons Funeral Home was opened in 2013 at 5235 Robinson Road Ext. in Jackson, MS. Mildren so beautifully embraced the vision.
Mildred's legacy is forever embellished in the hearts of those she love and those who loved her, her loving husband of 45 years, Arthur Willis, Jr.; her two sons - Jason and Anthouny Willis of Madison, MS; mother-n-love, Ella Mae Willie of Edwards, MS; one god daughter, Jeniffer (Chris) Gibson of Jackson, MS; two sisters, Mary White (Perry, Sr.) Paige of Jackson, MS and Carla Owens of Prentiss, MS; one brother, Pertis (Mary) White of Atlanta, GA; three grandchidren, Lleyton Carr, Kaylee McQuarter of Madison, MS and Kyla Willis Tate of Lithia Springs, GA; one god granddaughter, Krislyn Gibson of Jackson, MS; sisters-in-love, Bette Shaw and Evelyn Wesley of Los Angeles, CA, Vivian Willis Robinsn (Robert) of Clinton, MS and Elaine Willis of Bethesda, MD; three brother-n-love, Thomas Willis (Shelia) of Southfield, MI, Col. Paul Willis (Dorothene) of Utica, MS, and Calvin Willis (Rita) of Edwards, MS; one god brother, Michael Caldwell of Jackson, MS; a special niece, Chanel (Missy) Shaw of Los Angeles, CA; a special uncle, Ernest Jamison of Los Angeles, CA; a special sister/friend Kathy Cole of Jackson, MS; a special daughter, Jessica Thompson; special sons, Darryl Quinn, Lend Dillion and Derrick Barnes of Jackson, MS.
Mildred also leaves to cherish her legacy: a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and other relatives as well as her exteded families that embraced her and shared her love; the entire Edwards Community, Friendship MBC Family, Pastor Burks and First Lady Burks, the Morrison, Mixon Family, Willie Jean White and the Howard Family, John Ivory and Alma Foster, Ms. Lois Flagg and Zolda Tillman, Beaulah Singleton Family, Ms. Myra Harris, Mrs. Glenda Cage Barner, Mrs. Emma Adams, Ms Carolyn Price, Ms. Patricia Camper, Ms. Linda James, Dr. Phyllis Qualls-Brooks of Nashville, TN and many others from surrounding cities, too numerous to name.
Mildred is preceded in death by her parents, Vernell and Electrix White, Father-in-law, Arthur N. Willis, Sr.; brothers, James Earl and Vernell McClinton, Sister Annie Smith, brother-in-laws, Jerry Owens, Robert Earl Smith and Henry Cooper.
Remember this: "God made you, He will carry you, He will sustain you, and He will rescue you in times of trouble". Isaiah 46:4.
And "Don't forget tolisten to God's voice in every thing you do and every where you go; He's the one that will keep you on track". Proverb 3:6.
I will always love you. My only regret is that if I had known that the last time I saw you, would be the last time I saw you, I would have hugged you a little tighter, told you I loved you a little louder, and stayed by your side a little longer. @MountainWisdom
Yes she's gone, but she will never be forgotten. She lives on in our hearts and in the hearts of those who knew her & loved her. " Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17. Mildred was truly a gift from above.
"Let not the night come upon you in your anger, that is, make atonement quickly, for all matters". Ephesians 4:26
"Nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37
