Willis
WAYCROSS — Florris Emily Wildes Willis, 90, of Waycross, passed peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Mrs. Willis was born August 6, 1935 in Waycross to Spencer Martin Wildes and Essie Ruth Barb e r Wildes. She was a 1953 graduate of Waycross High School and studied piano at the Ware Conservatory of Music.
She also sang in many choirs throughout her life, including the Bluebird Chorus as a child and various church choirs. She often was asked to play or sing for weddings, funerals, and other occasions.
Mrs. Willis became a Christian at the age of 11, and joined Kettle Creek Congregational Methodist Church where her family were members. She taught Sunday School to toddlers and young children for most of her life, and was active in missions groups in the churches where she was a member. She was church pianist and organist at the First Advent Christian Church after marrying the love of her life, Billy Willis.
As their children grew older, they joined Central Baptist Church, where they remained active until joining First Baptist Church, where she remained a member until her death.
Mrs. Willis worked as a secretary at the US Naval Mine Depot in Yorktown, Va., and at Fort Eustis, Va., when her husband was stationed there after they married. She also worked for a number of years as an administrative assistant at Gaston Photofinishing in Waycross, and later at the Okefenokee Regional Library and Central Baptist Church.
Her greatest joy in life came from loving and serving God, her family, and others. Following her beloved husband’s death in 2004, she enjoyed living with her children at various times.
Mrs. Willis loved sending notes of encouragement, support and celebration to family and friends. Her annual Christmas letter kept everyone updated on her family. After retiring, and with encouragement from her sister-in-law, Maxie Brown of Homerville, she took up quilting.
Over the years, she made more than 100 quilts for family and friends. She hand-pieced many, and spent numerous hours hand quilting each one, being sure to include hand-stitched hearts on each one.
Mrs. Willis, who didn’t fly on a plane until she was 77 years old, went to Scotland with her son. She loved flying and loved Scotland, almost as much as she loved the North Georgia mountains. She always was agreeable to a ride to Laura S. Walker State Park to reminisce about all the fun times she had there during her life, and few trips were complete without a trip to Dairy Queen for a small ice cream cone. She enjoyed playing the piano, leisure reading, and watching Wheel of Fortune. Anything made with chocolate completed a meal.
Mrs. Willis was preceded in death by her grandparents, James Leonard Wildes and Martha Malissa Dixon Wildes; step-grandmother, Maggie Tatum Wildes, Mose Barber and Amanda Jane Stanfield Barber; her parents, Spencer Martin Wildes and Essie Ruth Barber Wildes, her stepmother, Jessie James Murray Wildes; husband Billy Willis; two sisters, Dorothy Jane Wildes Roland (Jimmy), and Martha Ruth Wildes Taylor; a brother, Leonard Martin Wildes (Pinky); a stepbrother, Billy Martin Murray (Nora); a son-in-law, Gerald Wayne Wilson; and one great-grandchild, Evie Mac Bowman.
She is survived by two daughters, Harriet Emily Willis Bowman (Clint) and Nora Marie Willis Wilson; a son, William Spencer Willis; three grandchildren, Jeremy Wade Bowman, Jessica Ruth Bowman Peters (Matt), and James Clinton Bowman (Sarah); 10 great grandchildren, Jackson Emily Bowman, Everett Hugh Bowman, Lucas James Bowman, Clint Griffin Bowman, Lily Grace Peters, William James Peters, Ella Kate Peters, Judah Clinton Peters, Emeri Ann Bowman, and Gabriel Mac Bowman; along with several nieces, nephews, and many other relatives in the area.
A graveside service was held March 21 at Kettle Creek Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to Southeast Cancer Unit Inc. or First Baptist Church in Waycross.
