Betty Ann Thompson Willis

Mrs. Betty Ann Thompson Willis, 84, died Monday, February 22, 2010 at her residence on West Seventh Street. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church, Columbia with Rev. Emily Barker, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Pleasant and Rev. Roger Nicholson, interim pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia officiating. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4 - 8 p.m. at the Willis home at 1102B West Seventh Street and Friday from 1 p.m. until time of service at the church and again immediately following the service. A private interment will be conducted at Polk Memorial Gardens at a later date. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Concert Series, 801 S. High St., Columbia, Tennessee, 38401 or King's Daughters' School for Autism, 900 Trotwood Ave., Columbia, TN 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Columbia native was the daughter of the late William Kenneth Thompson and Ethel Mooney Thompson. She was married for twenty-five years to the late David S. Willis. A graduate of Columbia Central High School and Gulf Park College, Gulfport, Mississippi, Mrs. Willis studied commercial art at Watkins Institute, Nashville and had an early career in advertising and visual merchandising. In the 1980's and 90's she had her own advertising, graphic design and illuminated writing business. Mrs. Willis was a member of First Presbyterian Church where she served as a deacon, church school teacher and was honored with a lifetime membership in Presbyterian Women. She was a long-time member of The King's Daughters' Guided Circle and served two terms as President of the Board of Directors of The King's Daughters' School. She was active in numerous community organizations including the James K. Polk Memorial Association, "Santa For All Seasons" program for foster children, the ALS Central Tennessee Chapter, Maury County Arts Guild, the Maury County Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia Main Street Program, all to whom she contributed graphics work or logos. Survivors include a son, David S. "Chip" Willis of Sarasota, Florida; daughter, Anne Katharine "Katie" Cannady of Columbia; grandson SPC William Kenneth "Will" Cannady, stationed in Baumholder, Germany and his wife Shannon Moore Cannady of Lewisburg; granddaughter, Lisa (Bryan) Proffitt of Sparta; great-granddaughters, Olivia Cannady of Lewisburg, Alyson Proffitt of Sparta; great-grandson, Layton Proffitt of Sparta; brother, William Kenneth (Elizabeth "Betsy" Jackson) Thompson of Pine Bluff, Arkansas; nieces, Eleanor Ann Shaifer, Pine Bluff, AK, Suzy Willis of Murfreesboro; nephews, Mark (Beatrice) Thompson of Boynton Beach, Florida, Robert Willis of Murfreesboro; great-nieces, Rachel Shaifer Cobb of Shreveport, Louisiana, Jennifer Shaifer of Pine Bluff, AL; and great-nephew Evan Willis of Murfreesboro.