Rivers Merl Mize (Wilson) Wills fought the good fight and kept the faith. On December 24, 2022 she finished the race and received her crown of righteousness from the Lord she followed all her life.
Rivers filled her 94 years with love, friendship, adventure, and service. She was the sort of woman who would visit a friend in the hospital, take a homemade pecan pie to a grieving family, walk across a roof in 4-inch heels, explore a Civil War battlefield in cowboy boots, teach a ladies’ Bible class, and cook a huge Sunday dinner for her family – all in one week.
Rivers did it all, and she did it all with style, grace, beauty, and genuine warmth and love. Her home on Hopeful Hill was a reflection of her big heart and generous spirit. The freezer was always full of pies, the radio was always on, and the door was always open to friends, family, or strangers in need of dessert, coffee, conversation, country music, or a place to stay.
Rivers Merl Mize was born on November 22, 1928 in Monroe County, MS to Merl and Riley Mize. She married Jesse Lyndon Wilson on September 22, 1947. In 1959, they moved their growing family to Lee County, MS, where Rivers quickly became part of the Verona Church of Christ and began working for Gravlee Lumber Company. She kept the Gravlee guys straight for over 40 years, and remained a member of her church until her death.
After Lyndon’s passing in 1995, Rivers fell in love with George Wills. They married on January 3, 2003 and enjoyed nearly 20 years together.
Rivers was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Lyndon; her brothers Hugh and Dale Mize, and her grandson Chris Wilson. She is survived by her children Mickey Bailey (Greg), Greg Wilson (April), Teresa Williams (Bennie), and Michael Wilson (Christine); her grandchildren Rebecca Bailey, Ben Bailey, Brittney Leyba, Matthew Steele (Amber), Zachary Steele, Casey Pearce (Cason), Kelly Kanarsky (Roman), and Chet Wilson (Mallory); and her great-grandchildren Isaiah & Esther Leyba, Cera Barnes, and Tristan Steele. Rivers is also survived by her beloved siblings Clyde Mize (Annette) and Wanda Whirley (Don), and a long list of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
A service celebrating her long, productive and fruitful life will be held at 3 PM Monday, December 26, 2022 in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Minister Wayne Cox assisted by Minister Adam Cox. Private burial will follow in Old Union Cemetery west of Shannon. Visitation will be from 1 PM-service time on Monday only at the funeral home. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Livestreaming at 3 PM Monday.
Rivers’ grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to Verona Church of Christ, P. O. Box 216, Verona, MS. 38879 or to the Tupelo-lee Humane Society, P. O. Box 2143, Tupelo, MS. 38802.
