Edna Mae Willis

On May 20, 1927, in Edwards, Mississippi, Mr. Samuel Davis and Mrs. Callie Alice Davis were blessed with a daughter Edna Mae Davis. She was the third youngest of nine children.

At an early age, Edna was baptized at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church/School. Growing up, she sang in the church choir with her sisters and later attended beauty school where she learned to do hair and enjoyed doing it.

In July of 1950, Edna married Garrett Willis Jr. who migrated to Detroit from Mississippi a couple years earlier. He sent for her and they had six beautiful children.

While growing up as a child, she understood the importance of having faith, believing and trusting in God. As a little girl Edna promised to serve God until she could no longer. And she kept that promise. After migrating to Detroit, she attended New Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in which she took her children every Sunday. Once her youngest child began school, she began working at Martin Place East Hospital now known as St. John Oakland Hospital. She worked there for forty-six years as a Dietary Aide and was never once late. In those forty-six years, she became a member of Greater Grace Temple and attended there weekly for Bible study and/or church service if her work schedule permitted.

Edna worked and attended church until she could no longer attend after suffering a stroke in 2010. Even still for the past ten years, she enjoyed listening to gospel music and having scriptures read to her. One of her favorite scriptures was the 23rd Psalm.

At 1:19 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2020, God called Edna Mae Willis home. She wa preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Samuel Davis and Mrs. Callie Alice Davis and siblings, Jerry, Polly, Eddie, William, Arthur, Elree, and Betty.

She leaves to cherish her precious memory: six children, Patricia Ann McCray, Jacqueline Willis Gloria Michelle Bramlett, Garrett Willis III, Elbert Willis, and Raymond Willis; eight grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; sister, Florence D. Burns; thirty-eight nieces and nephews; a host of cousins and friends.