Opal Willis

Opal Juanita Willis, returned to our Lord's kingdom on Saturday, June 14, 2008. Born in Mineral Bluff, Georgia, in 1921, she moved to Canton, North Carolina, in 1936, where she met and married her love, friend and soul mate, Herschel Lee Willis. They were married June 21, 1941 and shared 58 wonderful years of life together. They were blessed with and raised two sons and a daughter in Canton, NC. During her lifetime, Juanita served her family, friends and country. She worked at the Enka plant during World War II. At the end of the war, she continued her career as a loving homemaker. In January of 1969, with her family grown and gone, she decided to work for Haywood County School System and became the wonderful roll lady and the creator of the best fried pies around. She retired from Haywood County in 1984. In 1987, she started working part time for Iwanna and continued until 1995. In 1998, Juanita and Herschel moved to Florence, AL to be closer to their daughter, Sheila, and her growing family. Juanita was a member of the Killen United Methodist Church in Killen, AL. In Canton, NC, she was a member of Plains United Methodist Church where she served as communion steward making her bread as a gift for communion service. She was a Grand Matron and lifetime member of the Oak Leaf Chapter of the Eastern Star in Canton. Juanita was preceded in death by her husband, Herschel, and infant son, Ronald Dean. She is survived by two sons, James Willis and his wife, Lori, of Chesapeake, VA, and Cecil Willis and his wife, Deborah, of Wilmington, NC; one daughter, Sheila Hannah of Killen, AL; five grandchildren, Christopher Hannah and his wife, Michelle, Justin Hannah and his wife, Lara, all of Killen, AL, Parrish Mort and her husband, Steve, of Cartersville, VA, Rex Riley of Glendale, CA, and Jennifer Booth and her husband, Jason, of Wilmington, NC; six great-grandchildren, Ashlyn and Hayden Hannah, Haylie Hannah, Brandon and Lauren Mort, and Aaron Booth, and numerous loving family members. God blessed us with her life and blesses her with the promise of life ever after. She was dearly loved and will be missed by all that knew her. Celebration services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 20, 2008 at Plains United Methodist Church with Reverend Michael Austin officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening at Wells Funeral Home of Canton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Plains United Methodist Church, 2029 Newfound Road, Canton, NC 28716.

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