Carl Ray Willis

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Carl Ray Willis, age 84, on March 2, 2025, in his
home with his family in St Cloud, Florida. Carl was a deeply loved and cherished husband, father,
grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather, and a respected friend to all who knew him.
Carl was born on September 2, 1940, in Newbern, Tennessee. He served in the National Guard and
worked as a police officer in Dyersburg for a short time before moving his family to Gary, Indiana and
joining the workforce at the United States Steel Corporation where he spent many years.
A man of great faith, Carl moved his family to Lubbock, Texas where he graduated from Sunset
School of Preaching now known as Sunset International Bible Institute. He spent several years
serving as a church minister, guiding his family and his community with love and devotion. His love
for the Lord was evident in every aspect of his life, and he raised his family with the same values of
faith and love that he lived by. Later in life, he transitioned into a career as a maintenance worker, a
role he held until his retirement.
Carl, known to young friends as Gumbo Mud, was always ready to play a variety of games with his
family and friends. Some of his favorites being Rook, Dominoes, and Canasta. He also had an
appreciation for sports, cheering on his favorite teams, the Tennessee Titans and the St. Louis
Cardinals.
Even though Carl was diagnosed with dementia in 2011, he never lost his joyful spirit and his huge
heart. He was a man who would do anything for anyone, always ready with a helping hand or a word
of encouragement. He loved to tease, joke and make people laugh. His infectious personality,
contagious laugh, and warm heart brought joy to every room he entered.
Carl was married to his devoted wife, Sharon (Davis) Willis for 63 years, a testament to their strong
bond and commitment to Christ. They raised their four children, and later their grandson Caleb Ray
Willis, with a faith-based foundation, and Carl took great pride in being a father. Carl and Sharon
were members of Antioch Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee for over 20 years. They continued
being online members when they moved to St Cloud, Florida in 2022.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Davis Willis and his three daughters, Carla Willis, Rhonda Owen,
and Melinda Willis all of St Cloud, Florida; daughter-in-law, Dulane Willis (Jason) of Conway,
Arkansas; two brothers, Ronnie Willis of Newbern, Tennessee and Roger Willis of Dyersburg,
Tennessee; two sisters, Cheryl Walker (Larry) of Newbern, Tennessee and Bobbie Faye Cantoni of
Portage, Indiana; two grandsons, Caleb Willis (Hayley) and Jordan Owen; two granddaughters,
Jeslyn Wallace (Zachary) and Kailyn Willis; four great grandchildren, Donovan Willis, Mallory Willis,
Madilynn McLaughlin-Owen, Zephi Wallace; and one great-great granddaughter, Azalea Willis-Webb.
He is preceded in death by his son, Jason Ray Willis (Dulane); his father, Dan Willis and mother,
Alline Barker Willis, both of Newbern, Tennessee; three brothers, Tee Willis, Curtis Willis and Lois
Willis and his five sisters, Ruth Walker, Mary Lois Rogers, Geraldine Proud, Reba Macedo and
Wanda Jacobs.
Carl's legacy of love, faith and service will continue to inspire all who knew him. He will be dearly
missed, and his memory will live on forever in the hearts of his family and countless others whose life
he has touched.
A memorial service to celebrate Carl's life will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, March 22, 2025, in the
Chapel of Johnson-Williams Funeral Home. Officiating this service will be Bro. Tim Miller of West
Chicago, Illinois, a lifelong family friend.
Online condolences may be made to the family at johnsonwilliamsfuneralhome.com. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made to: Sunset International Bible Institute
SIBI 3723 34th Street Lubbock, Texas 79410 https://www.sunset.bible/give-now
OR
Antioch of Christ, 2143 Antioch Pike, Antioch, TN 37013 antiochcofc.breezechms.com
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