Willa M. Varner

After a period of declining health, Willa M. Varner passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 31, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. Willa was born on February 11, 1940 in Nashville, Tennessee to the late John Grimes and Willie Bea Sublett (Dunn). Although born in Nashville, she was raised in Springfield, Tennessee by the late Robert and Hattie Frye.

Willa graduated from Bradford High School and was accepted into Indiana University in Bloomington on scholarship as an Art Major but instead fell in love with a soldier boy named Harvey Varner, Sr. They were united in marriage on August 11, 1956. From that 68-year union, they had 4 precious children: Harvey, Jr., Kenneth, Cathy and Carol. Willa was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

On May 12, 1974, Willa dedicated her life alongside her late husband, to her loving God, Jehovah. At the time of her passing, Willa was a faithful servant in the Central Englewood Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. She set a fine example in the field ministry, teaching others about her loving God, Jehovah, until her health prohibited her from being present in the congregation, but she was present on Zoom, listening and praying to Jehovah. She enjoyed sharing her Godly wisdom and guidance with her children and grandchildren, many times writing letters of encouragement including one of her favorite scriptures: Proverbs 3:5 which states, "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding."

Willa was also known for her artistry, sketching photos that were displayed in her home, and writing poems and short stories. In her poems, she liked to describe what future paradise would be like. She also loved fashion! This was evident by the amount of clothing in her closet.

Left to cherish her memories are her sons and daughters: Harvey, Jr., Kenneth (wife Myrna), Cathy Brown (husband Dana) and Carol Favor (late husband Curtis); granddaughters: Latasha Varner, Candice Stokes-Moore (Will), Charlene Stokes, Mariah Gbate (Selom) and Naomi Varner (Corry); grandson: Stefan Favor; 10 great grandchildren; siblings Jennifer Grimes, Caroline Strous (Bill), Sinceria Dumes (late husband Willie) and Kathy Peterson (Pierre), along with a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends and spiritual brother and sisters. Willa was preceded in death by her parents, Hattie and Robert Frye, her beloved husband, Harvey, Sr., siblings Harold Scott, James Goodwin, Minus Sublett, Jr., Jeffrey Sublett, Carmelita Rice, Deborah Washington, Joyce Grimes and her beloved aunts Mary Grimes, Amy Gardner and Lillian Gaines.