Mildred Stewart Willis

Mildred Joyce Stewart Willis was born on December 27, 1934, to the late Christiania Mackey Dorsey and the late Elvin Pettigrew. Although not her birth father, she was raised and loved by Mr. James Dorsey Sr.

She attended Stanton School and graduated in the Class of 1953; she was valedictorian of her senior class. She attended Whitehouse Church of God in Christ and was baptized at an early age. She later joined Antioch Baptist Church where she was the mother of the church, announcement clerk, a member of the finance committee, and a member of the choir.

Mildred loved art, reading books, played on the girls’ basketball team (she threw the ball to the wrong goal and ultimately became the scorekeeper), participated in school plays, she was a member of the Tyler Civitan Club, loved spending time with family, and loved to travel. Most of all she loved the Lord.

She was employed with East Texas Medical Center where she was the executive housekeeping supervisor until her retirement.

She married James Lee Stewart and this union was blessed with seven children. She later married Robert Willis Sr. in 2002.

She was preceded in death by her parents Christiania Mackey Dorsey, Elvin Pettigrew, and James Dorsey Sr., sisters LaJoyce Ervin, Lola Faye Williams, Thelma Ray Tennyson and Joyce Cooper, brothers James Dorsey Jr., Wilbert Dorsey, and Pastor Harold Pettigrew.

Mrs. Mildred Willis departed this life on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Trinity Mother Frances.

She leaves to cherish her memory her husband Robert Willis Sr. of Whitehouse, TX; four sons Bobby Don Stewart of Whitehouse, TX, Jerry Wayne Stewart and James Arthur Stewart of Tyler, TX, and Bruce Earl Stewart (Sherry) of Whitehouse, TX; three daughters Lana Kay Smith (Henry) of Arp, TX, Sharon Kennedy (James) of Tyler, TX, and Karon Starks of Whitehouse, TX; stepdaughters Lillie Faye Willis, Debra Williams, Barbara Hughes (Alvin), Sharon Williams (Ronnie), and DaWanda Austin (Jimmy); stepson Robert Willis Jr. (Sandra); sisters Jettie Smith of Tyler, TX, Carol of Houston, TX, and Marilyn Williams (David) of Tyler, TX; brothers L.D. Dorsey (Virginia) and Tommy Dorsey both Tyler, TX, Walter Dorsey (Lula) and Billy Ray Dorsey both of Whitehouse, TX; sister-in-law's Maxine Dorsey of Bullard, TX, Hattie Willis Gildon of Dallas, TX, Loretta Willis of Troup, TX, and Lessie Willis of Tyler, TX; brother in law Charles Willis of Arlington, TX; 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, family, friends, and loved ones.

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