Odessa Jernigan Willis, 85, of Tifton died Wednesday, November 27, 2013, at the Rehabilitation Center of South Georgia. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 30, 2013, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Grady Morey will officiate with burial to follow in Saint Luke Baptist Church Cemetery in Berrien County. The family will receive 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 and their spouses, Thomas and Sherri Willis, Tammy Moncada, Brandy Willis, Patti and Jason Douville, and Andy Madaris; and four great-grandchildren, Bryce Willis, Blake Willis, Spencer Douville and Lucas Moncada.