Kenneth
Kenneth Willis
d. December 2, 2015
Visitation for James Kenneth Willis, Senior will be held Sunday, December 6th from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home. The funeral service will take place Monday, December 7th at 12p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Meridian with graveside services to follow at Magnolia Cemetery.
James Kenneth Willis Sr. of Meridian, Mississippi passed away suddenly and peacefully at his home Wednesday, December 2, 2015.
He was the only son of the late Irvin Miller Willis and Myrtle Elizabeth Hollingsworth Willis. Ken was a graduate of Stratton High School and East Central Community College, where he excelled as center of their championship basketball teams. He completed his education at the Southeastern School of Graphics. Upon graduation, Ken served his country as a member of the United States Army, including a tour of duty in Korea. After his service in Korea, Ken became a typesetter in the newspaper industry of the Southeast, including over 30 years with the Meridian Star. Ken was actively involved in the lives of his family; managing family property, supporting his wife in her work at Point Rexall Drug and volunteering as a youth baseball coach and Boy Scout leader. Ken attended and filmed many years of dance reviews and softball games of granddaughters and nieces, as well as those of his own daughter. Ken’s civic activities included membership in the Utopian Club, Revelers Club and Kiwanis Club. He was also a member of Northwood Country Club where he shared his love of golf with family and friends. Ken found great pleasure in camping, hunting and crappie fishing; his easy nature and open heart making him the ideal teacher. Ken is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Meridian, where he served as a member of the Board of Deacons and on various service committees.
Ken is preceded in death by his wife of fifty-two years, Virginia “Ginger” Smith Willis, his parents Irvin Miller Willis and Myrtle Hollingsworth Willis, and his sisters Audrey Elizabeth McBeath and Harriet Manning.
Ken is survived by his daughter, Jeanna Willis White and her husband David Wilson “Bo” White Jr., his son, James Kenneth “Jay” Willis, Jr., his granddaughters, Virginia Sherrod White, Mary Grace Willis, and Sarah Madison Willis, his two sisters, Marge Willis Horvath and Delores Willis Semmes, brothers-in-law, John Robert Smith and Daniel Briggs Smith, Jr. and his wife, Dot Fancher Smith, and nieces and nephews, Jan, Libby, Michael, Grant, Randolph, Kennedy, Ethan, Hayden, Dan, Carter, Fancher, Sadie, Sophie, Havens, Caroline, Tate, Harrison, Kyle, Alden, and Scout. Pallbearers will be Marty Hollinsworth, Randolph Smith, Dan Smith, Carter Smith, Fancher Smith, Pearce Dickson, Benji Brown, and Wiggins Edrington. Honorary pallbearers are Jim Bass, Jim Luke, and Sam Forbert.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Kenneth Willis, please visit our flower store.
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