Tommie Willis

Tommie Lee Willis, 64, passed away suddenly Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in a tragic accident. He was born July 22, 1957, in Portageville, Missouri, to Robert Parnell and Vinia Lee Holloman Willis.

Tommie was the youngest of 12 children born to Vinia Lee Holloman Willis, six boys and six girls. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, five sisters, one nephew and one niece.

Tommie attended Cape Girardeau Central High School. He dedicated his life to Christ at a young age. He served as a deacon and member of the usher board at New Bethel Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. He joined the Prince Hall Mason's Lodge in the mid-1980s and remained active in his church and community before relocating to Rockford, Illinois.

In Rockford, where he lived for more than 20 years, Tommie became "TJ." TJ was a very important figure in the lives of his nieces and nephews there. Soon after his mother's death, TJ moved back to Cape Girardeau and became the "cool uncle" to a whole new generation of Willis children.

Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Tonia Thompson of Phoenix; sister, Evie Willis of Cape Girardeau; three brothers, Leon (Christine) Willis and Ilander Willis of Rockford and Eugene Willis of Washington; sister-in-law, Willia (Cleo) Willis of Atlanta; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral will follow at noon Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Eugene T. Willis officiating.

Online condolences may be sent at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.