Leslie Gay Beach Willis, 44, of Chula passed away Saturday, April 30, 2005, at her residence following a sudden illness. Her funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 2, 2005, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Tonny Register, the Rev. Bruce Beach and the Rev. Rodney Mitchell officiating. Mrs. Willis was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Larry Duncan, Harris Gladin, Maxie Parker, Larry King, Don Pirkle, JZ McKinley and Glenn Hopkins served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Foster Parents Association in Tifton, and member of the Women's Sunday School Class at New River Baptist Church in Tifton.
Born January 26, 1961, in Whitfield County, Mrs. Willis was the daughter of Connie Ray Carter Cargal of Dalton and the late Pharris Lynn Beach. She was also preceded in death by her step-father, Wilson L. Cargal; her grandmother, Fannie Carter Souther; and her uncle. Lane Carter. She was employed previously by Queen Carpet, Target and O.P.S. Paradigm, and she was presently the owner of the Hopscotch Boutique in Tifton. She was a member of New River Baptist Church in Tifton, and she and her husband were active members of the Tift County Foster Parents Association and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
In addition to her mother, Mrs. Willis is survived by her husband, John E. Willis of Chula; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Jeb and Shonda Brown of Valdosta and Codie Willis of Tifton; two daughters and one son-in-law, Rose and Glenn Willis and Crystal Willis, all of Tifton; three step-daughters, Rose Hopkins of Marietta; Kim Curry of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Joni Willis of Montana; one brother, the Rev. Bruce Beach of Calhoun; one step-brother, Jimmy Cargal of Rocky Face; three sisters and a special brother-in-law, Sheryl and James Gillean and Beverly Wimpy, all of Dalton and Marcie Corbin of Marietta; four grandchildren, Mary Hopkins, Willis Hopkins, Cymone Curry and Sophia Rosales.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Foster Parents Association of Tifton, P. O. Box 2305, Tifton, GA 31793.