04/16/12 — FRANCIS BYRD WILLIS

View Archive

FRANCIS BYRD WILLIS

SPRING HOPE -- Francis Byrd Willis, 83, died Saturday, April 15, 2012 at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh.

Born October 1, 1928 in Harnett County, N.C., he was a son of the late John Manly and Kitty Byrd Willis.

Mr. Willis was truly a good man and loving husband. He was an avid fisherman and loved listening to country music. He worked as a supervisor in manufacturing and was a member of Micro Original Free Will Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Cornelia Holland Epps Willis; two stepdaughters, Susan Pridgen and her husband, Michael, of Lancaster, S.C. and Carol Ward and her husband, Kyle, of Cary, N.C.; a stepson, Charles Epps and his wife, Cathy, of Spring Hope, N.C.; a brother, Charles E. Willis and his wife, Joyce of Durham, N.C.; several grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, William Sherrill Willis.

Graveside services will be held at 12 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at the Holland Cemetery in Kenly, N.C.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. one hour prior to the service, at the Minshew-Coley Funeral Home.

You may share your memories and condolences with the Willis family by visiting www.minshewcoleyfh.com.

Minshew-Coley Funeral Home, 103 East Second Street, Kenly, N.C. 27542, is in charge of the arrangements.

(Pd)

Published in Obituaries on April 16, 2012 2:20 PM