Emma Rowell-Willis, 85, of Irwinville, died Friday, October 15, at the Irwin County Hospital.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, October 17, 2010, at Englewood Baptist Church with Rev. Howard Kitchens officiating. Visitation will be held from 6-8, Saturday evening at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mrs. Rowell-Willis was born February 24, 1925 in Worth County to the late Walter and Melissie Thornhill McCrary. She lived in Irwin County for 33 years and was a former resident of TyTy. Mrs. Rowell was a seamstress and former top sales representative for Independent Life Insurance Company. She was a member of Abba Baptist Church and a member of the Irwinville Sewing Club.
Mrs. Rowell-Willis is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law: Emily & James Lightsey of Ocilla, Melissa & Steve Rutland of Lenox, Shirley & Bill Webb and Wanda & Felton Sauter all of Sylvester; sons and daughters-in-law: Lyn & Starr Willis and Danny & Michelle Willis all of Sylvester; 16 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; stepsons: Billy Rowell and Leroy Rowell both of Irwinville and Tommy & Tammy Rowell of Fitzgerald; stepdaughters: Betty & Homer Jones of Fitzgerald, Frances & Richard Taylor of Rochelle and Martha & Patrick Rowe of Tifton; sister and brother-in-law: Susie Mae & Raymond Frazier of TyTy as well as several nieces and nephews. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, A.T. Rowell, who died in 1991 and Chesley Willis, who died in 2009, 1 sister and 7 brothers.