Lavinnia Willis December 18, 1932 – March 16, 2022

Lavinnia Willis

December 18, 1932 – March 16, 2022

Lavinnia Willis, age 89, of the Mound community, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Scott’s Funeral Home Chapel, with Brother Charlie Brown officiating. Interment followed at Gatesville Masonic Cemetery.

Lavinnia Elizabeth Willis was born on Dec. 18, 1932, in Rensford, West Virginia, to the late George and Lavinnia O’Boyle Lyle. She grew up in Lochgelly, West Virginia, and graduated from Oak Hill High School in 1948. Throughout her life, she traveled and lived in numerous locations, from Alaska to Germany and Oklahoma, to the Panama Canal Zone. She married the love of her life, James Mitchell Willis, in 1968. She graduated from Central Texas College, earning an associate degree in general studies in 1985. To celebrate her 87th birthday, against the advice from her family and competent medical authority, she jumped from a perfectly good aircraft in 2019.

Lavinnia made a commitment of faith in Jesus Christ at an early age. She demonstrated His love by living with Christ in her heart. She was a member of Pecan Grove Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, in 2007; and a daughter, MaryAnn Cuneo, in 2008.

Lavinnia is survived by her son, Jim Willis, Jr. and wife Lupita; daughter, Ephie Calhoun; sister, MaryAnn Martin and husband, Maurice; four grandchildren, Vanessa Carrison and husband, Jon, Rebecca Brown and husband, Charlie, James Steven Willis, Christopher Willis and wife, Kristen; and eight great-grandchildren.