Mary Nell Willis

Mrs. Mary Nell Willis, “Big Mama”, passed away Thursday, September 18, 2014 at Covenant Medical Center – Cooper at the age of 81 years. She was born December 28, 1932 in Columbia County, AR, the daughter of Jake and Mary (Alexander) Harris. She was married to Junior Willis, sharing 56 years together before he preceded her in death. Mrs. Willis attended Truevine Baptist Church faithfully for many years before she became ill. She served on the Nursing Guild and the Usher Board. She was employed by the Saginaw County Child Receiving Home for 20 years. Mary loved her family. She was very outspoken and didn’t have a problem letting people know when they were wrong. She was also very funny and would keep everyone laughing with her sense of humor. She had a very generous heart and would offer anything she had to others. Mary leaves to cherish her memory, three children, Mary Ann Napier, Gregory (Whittney) Willis and Gloria Jean Willis, all of Saginaw, MI; eight grandchildren, Shauntia (Levi) Harrison III of Defiance, OH, Sharronda Willis, LaTonya Willis, Tasha (Quincy) Thomas of Saginaw, MI, Gregory Willis, Jr., James (MacKangela) Willis of Fort Wayne, IN, Eric (Janaya) Napier and Derrick (Renee) Napier of Saginaw, MI; 15 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Richard Harris of Kansas City, MO and Martell (Dorothy) Harris of Saginaw, MI; sister, Ollie Rhinehart of Elyria, OH; two sisters-in-law, Alee Willis of Oakland, CA and Connie Harris of Kansas City, MO; one brother-in-law, Mozell Willis of McNeil, AR; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, including one of her closest friends of many years, Fannie Nelson of Saginaw, MI. She was preceded in death by her husband, Junior Willis; her parents, Jake and Mary Harris; five brothers, Napoleon Ferguson, Nathaniel Harris, James Harris, Curtis Harris and Ervin Harris; two sisters, Gracie Willis and Carolyn Harris; mother and father-in-law, Effie and Eliza Willis. Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at Messiah Missionary Baptist Church, 2615 Williamson Road. Rev. Otis Washington, Host Pastor. Pastor James E. Hodge will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call the Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 N. Jefferson Ave., on Friday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. The family will be present to greet friends from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.

Mary Nell Willis

December 28, 1932 - September 18, 2014