Jennie Lee Willis

AIKEN, SC - Jennie Lee Stack Willis, of Aiken South Carolina, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2018. She was at home, surrounded by her immediate family. A service in celebration of her life will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2019, at St John’s Methodist Church in Aiken SC, followed immediately by a reception. The   Rev. Dr. W. Timothy McClendon and The Rev. Nancy Creswell Reed of St. John’s Methodist Church Aiken SC will be officiating. A private family burial will precede the service. Jennie Lee was born on September 28, 1918, in Pinewood, SC, to Letitia Griffin Stack and Adolphus Gustavus Stack. She was the ninth of eleven siblings with six sisters and four brothers. She attended Pinewood High School and was Valedictorian of her class. Jennie Lee met James Otis Willis (JO) at the Pinewood Methodist Church of Pinewood, SC. He was a new member of the Pinewood High School faculty, and they were married on September 11, 1942, in Pinewood, SC. They spent their early married years in Bishopville, SC, where they welcomed the births of their son and daughter. In 1947 they moved to Aiken, SC, where JO began his 29-year career as Principal of Aiken High School. Jennie was devoted to her family and community. She actively supported the Bishopville School and Aiken High Schools alongside her husband, attending their sports and arts events. Jennie Lee also loved the USC Gamecocks and especially enjoyed cheering on their football games. She was a lifelong Methodist and served as a teacher in St. John’s Church School. Jennie Lee also participated in education with the St. John’s Women’s Circle 10 and the Katie Williams’ Class. She took on the role of Cub Master for Aiken Cub Pack #33. After the sudden demise of her husband in 1978, Jennie Lee began her volunteer life as a Pink Lady, providing over 5000 hours of service to Aiken Hospital. She also continued her hobbies of sewing and other handwork, reading (classics and romance), bridge and solitaire, and gardening. In her later years, Jennie Lee loved following the birds from her chair on her screened front porch. Aiken’s Monday night concerts at Hopeland Gardens also brought Jennie Lee much enjoyment. Jennie Lee attended numerous family reunions over the course of her life. This included reunions of both the Stack family in Pinewood and the Willis family in McCormick. The annual summer week spent at Surfside Beach was a highlight of her life. Jennie Lee’s immediate family joined her this past fall for a great birthday celebration. Jennie Lee is survived by her daughter Carolyn Willis Williams (Fred) North Augusta SC, and her son James Otis Willis Jr. (Ann) of Chapel Hill NC. Grandchildren include Brian Stack Williams (Christina) of Charlotte, NC; Patrick Fred Williams of North Augusta, SC; Lisa Willis Howley (Jim), of Denver, CO; Gayle Willis Hagler (Ty) of Chapel Hill, NC; Allison Willis Holley (Sasha) of NY, NY; and Suzanne Fauvre-Willis (Anne) of San Francisco, CA. Great grandchildren include Alexandra Williams, Nikolas Williams, Benjamin Howley, Brooke Howley, Graham Hagler, Naomi Hagler, Arthur Hagler, Xavier Holley, and Julian Holley. Jennie Lee was preceded in death by her parents Letitia Griffin Stack and Adolphus Gustavus Stack and brothers: Alton, Adolphus, Charlie, Ernst and sisters: Florence Williams, Letitia Glenn, Eva Shirer, Louise Pippin, Sadie Richardson, and Virginia Stack. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to St John’s Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St., NW Aiken, SC 29801.  SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801 (803)642-3456 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jennie Lee Willis, please visit our flower store.