Daphne Christine Thacker Willis, 82, of Tifton died Tuesday, August 19, 2014, at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 22, 2014, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with Dr. Wayne Roe officiating. Mrs. Willis will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Bill Abney, Ricky Roberson, Robbie Thacker, Ricky Thacker, Tim Thacker, Steve Scott, Brian Willis and Keith Willis will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be employees of Hospice of Tiftarea and Southern Care Hospice. The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 21, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Willis was born on May 19, 1932 in Tift County and was the daughter of Paul Lee Thacker and Ora Heath Thacker, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Marion Willis; two sons, Kenny Marion Willis and Gary Dean Willis; and one brother, Russell Thacker. She retired from the Coastal Plains Experiment Station, where she was a bookkeeper/accountant. She loved cooking, gardening, sewing and playing the piano. She was a member of Tifton’s First Baptist Church and loved the church and her Sunday school class. She loved her whole family, including her nieces and nephews, and taking care of her family, especially her grandchildren.
Mrs. Willis is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Michelle Willis of Tifton; one daughter, Cheryl Jane Walker of Tifton; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.