Mrs. Claudia M. Wills

Mrs. Claudia Mae Wills passed away Thursday, February 15, 2018 at the age of 90 years. She was born January 23,1928 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the daughter of John Henry and Azzilee Gray. Claudia graduated from Industrial High School and played on the girls basketball team. She accepted Christ at an early age. She was a resident of Saginaw, MI and a long time member of Tabernacle Baptist Church where she was a member of the Missionary Society, served 45 years as an Usher and also served on the Trustee Board. Claudia retired from the Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service. In 1965 she was the first woman to coach a knot hole boys baseball team at Hoyt Park known as the Wills Dodgers and was three time division champions. She also coached a girls pigtail softball team. In 1968 she was chosen to serve as one of the Model City Director's. On January 13, 1969 she was the first and only woman to serve on a five member team of the Housing Commission. She was presented a plaque by the "Ebonettes" teenage girls from First Ward Community Center as Outstanding Citizen of 1969 during her "This is your Life Program" for community service. She was a volunteer coordinator of the free breakfast program to serve needy children. She was a volunteer for the 4H Club. She worked as a community aide for the Community Action Committee. Claudia Wills of MSU Expanded Nutrition Program worked with the Salvation Army to start a new drive to ensure gifts for the needy by developing a screening process for toys and grocery certificates. In 1999 she was presented with a Certificate of Outstanding Leadership of our Community by the Mayor Gary Loster. In 2003 she was presented a Certificate of Recognition for many years of volunteer service by First Ward Community Center. In 2007 during the Celebration of African American History program at Delta College she was awarded a Senior Citizen Day Certificate of Honor and Appreciation for her contributions made in the Saginaw Community. Her motto was "Be a Community-Involver Don’t Be A Community-Dodger”! Claudia enjoyed cooking, fishing, reading, watching and playing sports and spending time with her family! She spent time participating in the Old Timers Fitness Club at First Ward Community Center. Ms. Wills was a very outspoken and outgoing woman with a great sense of humor! She was loving, and very giving to others. Claudia was very kind-hearted and known as a mother figure to many! Claudia Wills is survived by her children, Azzilee O’Neal, Larry (Connie) Gray, Virginia Arnett, Betty Wills Palmer, Claude (Genita) Wills, Johnny (Laura Jean) Haywood; daughter-in-law, Renee McCall; grandchildren, Sam Donald, Charles Donald, John (Karen) McCall Jr., Latasha (Mercer) McCall-Johnson, Eric (Nakeyia) Wills, Charissee Koger, Isiahia Davis, Allison (Bruce) Baker, Ralph Arnett, Crystal Gray, Chester (Kamika) Palmer, DeAnthony Arnett, Alex Jackson, James Tatum, a host of other grandchildren; great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; nieces, Linda Gray & Estelle Gray of Long Island, New York, Gloria Jean Wills Cameron of Birmingham, AL; nephews, Malcolm Hopkins of Birmingham, AL., Lorenzo (Sharon) Hopkins of Tuscaloosa, AL and a host of other nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Lillie Hopkins; special cousins, Kenny Anthony, Ernestine Burley; special friends, Yommie Warren and Adline Helton; god-children, Arthur Rodgers, John Rodgers, Cheryl Moore, Lenora Rush and Lesley Kaiser. Claudia was preceded in death by her parents, John Henry Gray, Azzilee and Walter Harrell; her son, John McCall; daughter, Patricia Davis; brother, Jimmy Gray; grandchildren, Derwin O’Neal and Darrell McDaniel, Jr. The family would like to express special thanks to caregivers, Chelise Bond, Carolyn Barnes, and Marchell Holmes; Region 7, Home Health Care Team, JMB Medical Supply and Covenant Hospital. Funeral service will take place 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 810 Cathay Street, Saginaw, MI 48601. Pastor Blake D. Strozier, Host Pastor and Bishop Larry Camel will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery, 3210 South Washington Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48601. Friends may call at the Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 North Jefferson Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48607 on Friday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Mrs. Claudia M. Wills

January 23, 1928 - February 15, 2018