JOHN WILLIS

CHARLESTON -- John Thomas "Spider" Willis, 78, of Charleston died Sunday, Oct. 19, 1997, at his home.

He was born Jan. 27, 1919, at Belen, Miss., son of John T. and Rosie Lee Johnson Willis Sr. He and Mable Lott were married June 14, 1942.

Willis was a retired farmer, and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Peggy Dollison of Virginia Beach, Va., Retha Bradford of Oakland, Calif.; two brothers, Charles Johnson of Matteson, Ill., Brodie Nickson of Cleveland, Ohio; four sisters, Amanda Hudson of Memphis, Tenn., Betty Newsome of Batesville, Miss., Claudia McLemore of Calumet Park, Ill., Mildred Anderson of Jackson, Mich.; five grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at Sparks Funeral Home from 6-7 p.m. Thursday.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Matthew's Baptist Church, with the Rev. Wiley Reed officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.