Carl Wright Willis, 79, of Tifton passed away Monday, June 13, 2016, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, June 16, 2016, in the Sanctuary of Tifton’s First Baptist Church with Dr. Wayne Roe officiating. Mr. Willis will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, June 15, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Ramsey Willis, Rhett Hammond, Ty Hall, Dr. Greg Anderson, Robert Massey and Mike McBrayer will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be J. H. White, Harris Gladin, Van Whittle, Ben Tyson, Scott Dunn, Ronnie Dunn, Bobby Underwood, Junior Wood, Tommy Mullis, Jerry Shiver, Neil Wood, Ronnie Sturdivant, Bob Hammond, Bobby Miles, Mike Davis, Jim Greer, Ricky Willis, Howard Layton, Keith Kendrick, Mike Ford, Mike Pearson, and the late Kyle Cottle.
Born May 1, 1937 in Tift County to Edgar Right Willis and Lou Ethel Smith Willis, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Lennon, Al, Julian and Virgil “Bud” Willis. He has one surviving sister, Louise Willis Patrick. Carl graduated from Tifton High School in 1955 and attended the University of Alabama on a football scholarship. Carl married Margaret Tyson Willis of Tifton on March 2, 1958. He worked for several years for regional furniture companies and retired in 1998 as a National Sales Manager. Carl and Margaret filled their family home with three children and their spouses: Michael Ramsey Willis and Kimberly “Kim” Couvillon Willis, Elizabeth Louise Willis and Robert F. “Jay” Hammond III, and Carla Anne Willis and Gannon Hall.
Not only was Carl a successful business man and loving husband and father, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Tifton and an ardent servant in the community. He was a member of the Tifton Jaycees and served as president from 1965 to 1966 and enjoyed acting as Master of Ceremonies for the Miss Tifton Pageant. Carl enjoyed being a member of Springhill Country Club, the Elk’s Club, and the Tifton Lion’s Club. Carl’s love for education and sports led him to serve on the Tift County Board of Education for two terms, where he played a key role in bringing Coach Gene Brodie and Roy McWilliams and staff to Tifton in 1977.
He served as president of the Tift County Football Booster Club, coached Little League football, officiated football games for 15 years, and spent his Friday nights in the Devils’ Den at Brodie Field. Despite all of Carl’s business and civic activities, he still found time to do what he loved to do best – fish. If the fish weren’t biting, Carl could be found on Black Beard Island, holding court with a group of his son’s buddies, who became dear and beloved friends.
Carl’s wife, children, and grandchildren (Ramsey Wright Willis, Alexis “Lexie” Lauren Willis, Whitney Elizabeth Hammond, Robert “Rhett” Hammond IV, Spencer Margaret Hammond, Casey Anne Hall and Tyson “Ty” McKinley Hall) will remain his biggest fans. They are truly thankful that Carl hit the stride and made it to the “Big Game”. Roll Tide.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the Tift County Touchdown Club, One Blue Devil Way, Tifton, GA 31794.