The funeral service for Clara Jane Chandler Willis, age 85 of Wadley, will be held on Monday, October 1, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church in the Pletcher Community in Chilton County, AL with Bro. Freddie Senn officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery.
Mrs. Willis passed away on Friday, September 28, 2018 at her home. Clara was born in Billingsley, AL on December 10, 1932. She attended school in Billingsley and on June 25, 1949, she married Claude Willis Sr. They were married 39 years when he passed away. Clara had seven children whom she loved and raised to believe in God and in the Golden Rule. Clara lived in Clay County for over 50 years and worked at Clegg Manufacturers in Wadley and Russell Corporation in Ashland. She loved spending time outside working in the garden, yard and flower beds. When inside, she loved to crochet, knit and sew. The Willis home was always filled with children from all over the neighborhood. Clara loved cooking Sunday dinner for her family and anyone that happened to show up. After being disabled from work, Clara loved helping others and going places with her children. Clara loved God and never failed to tell everyone she met about Him. She loved talking to everyone about Jesus and all He had done for her and how blessed she was. She read her Bible every day and never failed to thank God before every meal. Clara always told the truth and said what she thought; that was to be expected when talking with her. She never gave in to changing times and when people told her to and that people should change with the times, she would say that The Lord gave us ten commandments to follow and didn’t change them with the times. She taught us that working built character and we were to work for what we wanted. She was an inspiration and loved everyone she met.
Mrs. Willis is survived by three daughters: Louvenia Jane Holmes (Robert) of Cragford, Patricia Kay Adams (Kenneth) of Wadley and Carolyn Jean Senn (Freddie) of Wadley; two sons: Claude Willis Jr. of Alexander City and Thomas Dale Willis of Cragford; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Thomas and Sarah “Sally” Chandler; her husband, Claude Willis; two sons: John Arthur Willis and Charles David Willis; one grandchild, Jaime Lynn Melton; five brothers: Melvin “Mac” Chandler, Walter Chandler, Floyd Cecil Chandler, Henry Jackson Chandler, William Hardin Chandler and one infant brother; six sisters: Velma Weaver, Clara Lucinda “Lucy” Atchison, Minnie Lou Dorn and Mable Dovie Wright.
Jonathan Dean Holmes, Robert John Holmes, William Isaac Holmes, Freddie Daniel Senn, Christopher Dale Willis, Joshua Chandler Willis, Lucas David Willis and Joseph Hickman will serve as pallbearers. Chase Lemar Holmes, Cameron Wesley Willis, Levi Willis, Jordan Adams, Hunter Adams and Jarred Hickman will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at Benefield Funeral Home in Lineville on Sunday, September 30, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Mrs. Willis will lie in state for one hour prior to the service at Pilgrim’s Rest Primitive Baptist Church on Monday.
Benefield Funeral Home in Lineville in charge of the arrangements.
