Gladys Johns Willis

View Funeral Webcast Gladys Marie Johns Willis, 97, widow of John Woodrow Willis, died Friday, December 3, 2010 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Dr. Carl Duck officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Monday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to West End Baptist Church, 900 West Seventh Street, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Commodore D. Johns and Maude Lynn Johns and was a 1933 graduate of Columbia Central High School. For many years, Mrs. Willis was a fixture in downtown Columbia where she was associated with Helm's Jewelry as saleslady. She was married February 26, 1939 to John Woodrow Willis, farmer and owner of Willis Radiator Shop. She and Mr. Willis divided their time between their home in Columbia and a cabin on their farm, "Valley Vista," where they entertained family and friends for many years. Their 53-year marriage ended with his death October 28, 1986. A former long-time, faithful member of First Baptist Church, she was a charter member of West End Baptist Church and active in the affairs of the Women of the Church. Survivors include her sister, Rubye Jean Johns, with whom she made her home for many years; brother, Cecil (Joan) Johns of Columbia; nieces, Sharon Johns Glassmeyer of Nashville and Jennifer Stratton Johns of Columbia; nephews, Lawrence Earl Johns of Columbia, Cecil Douglas Johns of Columbia, and Darrell Lane Johns of Cookeville. She was preceded in death by brothers, Lennie Johns, Lloyd Johns, and Hubert Johns and a nephew, Cloyd Mitchell "Skippo" Johns. Active pallbearers are Doug Johns, Lawrence Johns, Darrell Johns, Steve Glassmeyer, Jack Willis, and Gary Willis. Honorary pallbearers include Dewey Gray, John Lynn, Billy Ray Johns, Jim Bratton, David Wise, Shelby Carpenter, Virgil Moore,Jr., Dr. and Mrs. Harry Helm, and Deacons of West End Baptist Church.